>>47236180I think they gave him an espeon in gsc as a reference to rby not having a day/night cycle, which is one of the main innovations of gen2
eevee is a gift mon in the original games and realistically red could only evolve it into an espeon because of the perpetual daylight
plus, psychic was by far the best type in gen1 so it makes sense for the champion of the region to have one, even when psychics were past their prime