Former Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez has signed an exclusive deal with pickleball company JOOLA to prepare for a transition to professional pickleball after his baseball career. Martinez, 37, has been playing pickleball as a hobby in recent years and will receive training, coaching, and equipment from JOOLA as part of the partnership. He has already started training under JOOLA pro Eric White and will have the opportunity to compete in professional events and host his own tournaments.
Martinez, who had a successful tenure with the Red Sox before a slower season with the Mets in 2024, is currently a free agent but is reportedly planning on playing baseball again in 2025. However, if he doesn’t sign with a team before spring training starts, he may focus on his pickleball career sooner than anticipated. Despite a slightly down year in 2024, Martinez is looking forward to the new challenge of becoming a professional pickleball player and is excited about the partnership with JOOLA.
Martinez expressed his enthusiasm for the sport, stating, “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.” Fans of Martinez can expect to see him taking on a new athletic endeavor in the future as he explores the world of professional pickleball.
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