Six-time MLB All-Star J.D. Martinez signs with JOOLA, plans to pursue pro pickleball

Alex Lantz

Director of Written Content

Last Edited

Feb 03 2025

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News

Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series Champion J.D. Martinez has signed an exclusive deal with JOOLA as he prepares to transition to professional pickleball after his baseball career, the company announced Monday.

Martinez has already begun training under JOOLA pro Eric White and will look to translate one of the purest swings in baseball to the pickleball court. 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 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 in a news release.

As a self-proclaimed former table tennis addict, Martinez was first introduced to pickleball when a neighbor invited him over to play. His competitive spirit quickly took over, and he was instantly hooked. Not long after, Martinez built a pickleball court at his home to fully immerse himself in the sport.

“In our short time working together I can already see he loves the game of pickleball and is willing to learn better pickleball habits,” White said. “Because of that enthusiasm and willingness to change he truly has no ceiling.”

Martinez, 37, said he loves that people of all ages can play pickleball and compete on an equal level.

“Every time I step onto the court to play, I feel like I uncover another layer of the game, and it keeps drawing me in," he said. "The competition aspect is what keeps me hooked!”

In October, Martinez was announced as the newest member of “The Fort”, a world-class pickleball facility in Fort Lauderdale that is home to the world’s first dedicated pickleball stadium.

The six-time MLB All-Star and 14-year veteran played for the New York Mets in 2024 and is currently a free agent. The New York Post reported last week that Martinez plans to play in 2025.

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