A former Red Sox slugger is the latest notable athlete to jump into the world of pickleball.
J.D. Martinez, who played in Boston from 2018 through 2022, has signed an exclusive deal with table tennis and pickleball equipment manufacturer JOOLA. According to the Tuesday announcement, Martinez signed with JOOLA in order to “prepare to transition to professional pickleball after his baseball career”
“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, according the release.