Former MLB All-Star J.D. Martinez eyeing a career in pickleball
Six-time MLB All-Star J.D. Martinez just signed a deal to go pro—in pickleball. As more athletes retire to the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., Martinez is joining names like Brady, Bouchard, and LeBron in giving the paddle a serious swing.
Like washed-up 65-year-old manufacturing execs with dad bods, elite athletes are increasingly taking up pickleball in retirement.
Last week, six-time MLB All-Star J.D. Martinez signed an exclusive deal with German paddlesport equipment manufacturer JOOLA that will see him transition to pro pickleball after retiring from baseball.
Pro athletes love pickleball
Tom Brady owns a pro pickleball team with four-time major tennis champion Kim Clijsters. Drew Brees is part owner of another team. And LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Kevin Love together own a separate team.
Some, like Martinez, are actually playing…Former Wimbledon finalist Genie Bouchard – one of many pro tennis players to swap out their rackets for paddles – recently wrapped up her first year of pro pickleball.
- Top players, like the PPA’s #1-ranked Ben Johns, can take home millions from salary and endorsement deals.
Zoom out: Pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in America in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year, according to USA Pickleball – much to the chagrin of tennis enthusiasts and HOA board members everywhere, for whom the loud “thwacks” serve as a constant reminder of what’s been lost (court space and peace & quiet).
