ESPN report details how Major League Baseball players and staffers got hooked on pickleball
Last Edited
Apr 17 2025
Category
News
Kyle Schwarber's Phillies are among the major league teams that have experimented with adding pickleball to training activities. Miles Kennedy/Philadelphia Phillies
A recent ESPN story has detailed how hotly contested pickleball matches have become the norm throughout Major League Baseball, replacing basketball and even golf as the preferred off-day activity among front office members, coaches, umpires and some players.
As pickleball has exploded in popularity and more courts have been built in cities across the country, it has given those in baseball a convenient outlet for their competitiveness while on the road. Some teams even built courts at their spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida.
"Day 1 or 2 of a series, we'll go find a court to play on," said Regan Wong, a member of the Texas Rangers' support staff. "Either on our own or we'll mix with the locals. It's a great way to stay active. There's camaraderie. Teamwork. S--- talking. It gets our juices going."
Read next: How did we get here? — A deep dive into the past 25 years of pickleball in America
As you might imagine, the trash talk is heightened among the elite athletes compared to your average game at open play. Some teams, such as the Milwaukee Brewers, keep power rankings to track their pickleball skills.
According to the ESPN article, Brewers infield coach Matt Erickson sits atop the current rankings and is regarded as the team's VP of pickleball operations. GM Matt Arnold is right behind him at No. 2 on the rankings, which included a scouting report of the 46-year-old: "High-level of paddle skill to both sides, savvy, psychological advantage over opponents, high motor, high intent, Larry Bird-type competitor."
Special assistant Matt Klentak's scouting report simply says "tries hard" next to his name.
Other teams, like the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres, put together tournaments on their road trips. In one instance, the Padres even had to take a break from pickleball because the competition between the front office staff and the coaches was getting too heated.
"It's a bunch of alphas going after it," manager Mike Schildt said. "I'm not going to lie to you. It got so competitive, we had to take a break."
While MLB staffers duke it out, players have to be more careful
Some players have gotten involved, too, but during the season pickleball has to take a back seat.
Dodgers star Mookie Betts is well known for his skills on the pickleball court, but he told ESPN he's back to playing more golf these days.
"I'm playing shortstop now," he said. "I don't have time to be doing all that running and stuff."
Part of that decision could have come down to what his boss wanted, according to ESPN.
"We had many a conversation about it last spring," president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "I don't think it's a great thing for the Dodgers' ultimate success for a lot of guys to be playing pickleball."
One player who is taking pickleball seriously, though, is former All-Star J.D. Martinez, who is currently a free agent and might soon have a lot more time for pickleball if a team doesn't pick him up later this season.
Martinez signed an exclusive deal with JOOLA as he prepares to transition to professional pickleball after his baseball career, the company announced earlier this year.
Martinez has already begun training under JOOLA pro Eric White and will look to translate one of the purest swings in baseball to the pro pickleball scene. As part of the partnership, JOOLA will provide Martinez with comprehensive support, including coaching and equipment, as well as backing from JOOLA to compete in professional events like the PPA Tour Challenger Series and to host his own pickleball tournaments.
“I see pickleball as a sport I’ll be involved in for the long run and JOOLA’s commitment to the sport and my personal growth in the game makes this partnership even more special,” Martinez said at the time.
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