Former Dodgers All-Star to Become Professional Pickleball Player
Former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star J.D. Martinez could be seeing his baseball career come to an end soon. With spring training weeks away, the slugger remains a free agent.
While he waits to sign with a new team, Martinez has begun the next chapter of his life – pickleball.
A World Series champion, Martinez signed an exclusive deal with JOOLA to prepare for his transition to professional pickleball after his baseball career is over.
“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,” said Martinez via a press release.
A self-proclaimed former table tennis enthusiast, J.D. was introduced to pickleball when a neighbor invited him to play. His competitive drive quickly took over, and he became immediately hooked. It wasn’t long before Martinez constructed a pickleball court at his home to fully dive into the sport.
“What I love is how people of all ages can play and compete on an equal level—it’s all about skill,” said Martinez. “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. The competition aspect is what keeps me hooked!”
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Martinez has officially become part of the JOOLA team and has already started training with the expert guidance of JOOLA pro, Eric White. Through this partnership, JOOLA will offer Martinez full support, including coaching and top-tier equipment.
Along with training, Martinez will also receive JOOLA’s backing to compete in professional events such as the PPA Challenger Series and to organize his own pickleball tournaments.
“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 in the release, “because of that enthusiasm and willingness to change he truly has no ceiling.”
Over 14 seasons in the big leagues, Martinez has posted a 131 OPS+ and hit 331 home runs. In addition to his impressive stats and All-Star Game appearances, he has earned three Silver Slugger Awards and was a key member of the 2018 World Series champion Boston Red Sox. He spent one year with the Dodgers in 2023, hitting .271 with 33 home runs and 103 runs batted in.
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Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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