Why Jerry the Dinosaur is hot new UCLA baseball superstition: ‘He just keeps me calm’

The new star of the UCLA baseball team can’t hit a lick.

Doesn’t know how to pitch. Wouldn’t budge if a line drive came his way.

His claim to fame is being inseparable from pitcher Angel Cervantes.

Emerging from Cervantes’ back pocket every time the freshman pitches, Jerry the Dinosaur takes up residence near the back of the mound.

The soothing presence of the toy Triceratops helped Cervantes pitch five shutout innings in the Big Ten Tournament championship game last weekend. That earned the roughly inch-and-a-half-long talisman mentions from the social media accounts of Major League Baseball and ESPN.

“This may be the most wholesome thing we’ve ever seen,” the MLB account tweeted along with a tears-of-joy emoji.

The growing frenzy could make it Jerry’s World this weekend at Jackie Robinson Stadium, the tiny piece of plastic undoubtedly becoming a top attraction of No. 1 UCLA’s opening games in the NCAA Tournament.

“I didn’t think a little dinosaur would just get that much fame just because it’s on the mound,” Cervantes said on the eve of the Bruins’ Regional opener against Saint Mary’s at noon Friday.

Think again.

Fans inside UCLA’s home stadium will surely crane their necks to catch a glimpse of Jerry whenever Cervantes pitches. With ace Logan Reddemann sidelined at least another week by arm fatigue, Cervantes will almost surely appear in a Regional that also includes Virginia Tech and Cal Poly.

Jerry has been as big a part of Cervantes’ arsenal as his fastball since making his debut on the mound last season during a high school game at Angel Stadium.

“He’s a big part of my plan,” Cervantes said. “He just keeps me calm.” 

The dinosaur assists his owner as part of a breathing routine in which Cervantes places his hand on the visor of his cap, looks down, closes his eyes and opens them to see Jerry. He’ll commence the routine in situations when he wants to stay present, like on an 0-and-2 count.

“Whenever I think the moment’s getting a little big,” said Cervantes, who has gone 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 18 appearances, “I want to slow things down.”

He’s already something of an expert in that department, having picked college baseball over the big leagues after the Pirates selected the right-hander 50th in the 2025 draft.

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A Tuesday starter earlier in the season, Cervantes has steadily moved into a larger role thanks to his rapid development.

It’s a story that’s become even bigger thanks to a miniature friend.

The fantastic plastic first caught Cervantes’ eye last spring during a photography class. Warren High teacher George Redfox told his students to grab dinosaurs from a jar and place them on the ground to take pictures. Cervantes asked if he could keep Jerry — named after “Tom and Jerry,” one of his favorite cartoons — and the teacher agreed.

Jerry has since joined a list of baseball superstitions as old as the game itself. Players jump across the foul line, refuse to wash jerseys, obsessively repeat routines — all because they believe it provides an advantage.

Why, even Cervantes has another routine in which he places holy water from his grandmother in the bullpen before games. While acknowledging the use of a toy dinosaur as something that might sound “childish,” he said he doesn’t plan on stopping now.

“I kind of like that,” Bruins coach John Savage said of the characterization, “because that’s the first thing you think, like, what the hell? You know, baby dinosaur, what are we doing? And so, you know, he got a little chuckle out of it, and so he doesn’t take himself too serious. And I like that from a young guy, but, you know, it’s something that he loves and works off, and good for him.”

Fans have commented that they would riot if Jerry was banned from the mound, though there doesn’t appear to be much threat of that based on umpires’ reactions during equipment checks.

“I just put my hand out and Jerry’s just right and they’re like, ‘Oh, OK, cool, go get ‘em,’ ” Cervantes said. “So they’re always having a smile on their face.”

So does pretty much anyone who spots the thing.

Will Jerry make it to the majors?

“I hope so,” Cervantes said, “but if not, he’ll still be in my pocket.”