For J.D. Martinez, pickleball is all about having enjoyable

The excellent news for Martinez is that he’ll proceed to enhance within the months and years to come back with knowledgeable steering and constant follow.

The six-time MLB All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner signed an unique cope with JOOLA in February to organize to transition to skilled pickleball after his baseball profession, so he is desperate to commit extra time and power to the game down the street.

“It’s one of those things where this year I didn’t get to practice as much as I wanted to just because baseball was still on my mind and going that way,” he defined. “We’ll see how it goes this offseason, and next year would probably be the year that I take it a little bit more seriously, have more fun with it, and see what happens.”

Still, Martinez has seen important progress in his sport with the assistance of JOOLA professional Eric White.

The pair have labored collectively on a number of events in South Florida.

“Eric got me so much better. He’s taught me so many shots already. When I first met him, I was so bad, and then he taught me little weapons, little keys, like flicks, little ways to maneuver the paddles, and how to slow the ball down. It’s just cool learning new shots and new tricks,” praised Martinez. “I’ve learned some elementary dinking, too, patterns, how to move players’ feet, and how to cut off distance.”

Hitting the 20×44 with Hayden Patriquin and Will Howells has additionally been useful.

There’s no substitute for getting a style of pickleball on the highest stage.

“We played a game and they were great. They were cool guys, and I kind of called them out on it a little bit. I was like, ‘Hey! Stop being nice with me. I want the real deal. I want to see it.’ I instantly regretted it,” recalled Martinez. “Hayden asked, ‘Are body bags fair?’ I’m like, ‘It’s a pickleball. You’re not going to hurt me or my feelings. I promise.’ I left with like three welts. I quickly realized there’s levels to this.”

That’s for positive.

Players like Waters, Patriquin, and Howells are world-class abilities with elite talent units who play pickleball for a dwelling.

At age 38, Martinez is taking a extra informal method to America’s fastest-growing sport after conducting a lot within the baseball world as a member of the Astros, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Mets. 

“I don’t really have a vision [for my pickleball career]. I just enjoy playing it, and I enjoy having fun. I think if it ever gets to where it’s a job-type thing, I don’t think I’d do it,” he insisted. “I’ve worked too hard in my career, gotten too much. I’m just here to have fun and challenge myself in different ways.”

Standing on the alternative facet of the web from Waters in entrance of hundreds of spectators watching on-site and on TV would definitely qualify as a “challenge” in that regard.

Stepping as much as the plate like that could be a good indicator that Martinez is a tried-and-true pickleball fan.

“I love the craftiness of the shots and the skill of it. You could be the best athlete and it doesn’t matter. You come out here and you’ll get worked by 70-year-old ladies that know how to maneuver the ball and push you around the court,” he stated. “I tell my baseball friends all the time. I told Francisco Lindor this one time and he laughed to me. He’s like, ‘No shot!’ I said, ‘Come out and play! You’ll see!’ But, it’s just cool. It’s like more of a skill sport to me.”

An avid Pickleballtv fan, Martinez watches PPA Tour and MLP occasions each time doable.

It’s one other method to sharpen his pickleball IQ whereas staying within the loop on the newest information from across the picklesphere.

“I like watching the best players play, so I’ll just watch and learn some new trick shots that they’re doing and try to pick up on them and replicate them,” he shared. “I watch Ben Johns, Anna Leigh, Hayden, Gabe Tardio, try to learn a little twoey from James Ignatowich. They all have their signature shots that they do, so I kind of just learn little things from everyone.”

With that in thoughts, may we ultimately see Martinez competing in PPA Challenger Series occasions?

He’s open to it.

“I think I would. I think I would do it for fun,” he confirmed. “Obviously getting a good partner, getting someone that could help me out a little bit. There’s another baseball player, Brad Penny, that JOOLA works with as well, so they were talking about bringing us together for fun.”

Stay tuned.