Cómo los torneos de Pickleball y las rivalidades que provocan están arrasando en la MLB
Puede que el pasatiempo estadounidense todavía se juegue con bates y guantes, pero fuera del campo, una nueva obsesión está arrasando en las Grandes Ligas de Béisbol: el pickleball. Lo que comenzó como un pasatiempo peculiar para algunos jugadores que buscaban un ejercicio cardiovascular ligero se ha convertido en un fenómeno completo, con torneos de equipo, charlas basura en los clubes y rivalidades poco probables que se están extendiendo a las bromas de los entrenamientos de primavera y más allá.
Desde toleteros veteranos hasta lanzadores novatos, los jugadores de la MLB agarran paletas, reclaman canchas y se sumergen profundamente en el vertiginoso y adictivo mundo del pickleball. Y si bien comenzó como una forma de mantenerse ágil y vincularse con los compañeros de equipo durante el tiempo de inactividad, ahora se ha convertido en algo más: un campo de batalla de egos, atletismo y orgullo.
The Rise of Pickleball in Clubhouses
The surge of interest in pickleball isn’t just a sports fad; it’s part of a broader trend across the country. The game’s appeal—quick to learn, easier on the joints, and highly competitive—makes it the perfect recreational outlet for elite athletes who don’t want to risk injury but still crave competition.
Several MLB teams have installed portable pickleball nets at their spring training facilities, and some, like the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs, even have semi-permanent courts set up near the clubhouse. In the offseason, many players share videos of doubles matches in backyards, garages, and private pickleball clubs, often featuring fellow teammates or cross-team rivals.
“It’s the ultimate team bonding tool,” said an anonymous Yankees bullpen coach. “You see these guys go from chill to full-glare death match mode in under 10 minutes. The competitiveness is wild.”
Rivalries Go Beyond the Diamond
What’s particularly interesting about the rise of pickleball in MLB is how it has given rise to a new layer of rivalry—off the field, but still deadly serious. And it’s not just AL vs. NL, or Yankees vs. Red Sox anymore. It’s pitcher vs. position player. Rookie vs. veteran. Teammate vs. teammate.
One of the most talked-about rivalries is between Dodgers ace Walker Buehler and outfielder Mookie Betts. Both are fierce competitors, and what started as friendly doubles matches has evolved into a near-legendary grudge. Sources say Betts leads their unofficial series 9-7, but Buehler claims three of those losses were “wind-aided.”
Then there’s the Astros’ internal war: Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker are said to be “locked in a silent pickleball standoff” after a heated spring training final that ended with a controversial let-call. “We haven’t talked about it since,” Tucker reportedly told a clubhouse reporter. “But yeah, we both know.”
Across the league, players are even taking their rivalries to social media. It’s not uncommon to see playful jabs or video clips of a clean smash down the middle accompanied by captions like “Send this to your shortstop” or “Still undefeated in the AL Central.”
Tournament Time: The Pickleball Playoffs
As interest has grown, so have the stakes. What started as loose matches during spring downtime has morphed into full-blown team tournaments, sometimes with brackets, team names, matching shirts, and yes—trophies. Some teams even livestream their finals for fans.
The Braves’ annual “Braves Bash” tournament, held at their spring training complex in Florida, is one of the most talked-about events. Players draw names for random doubles pairings, and the tourney stretches over three days with a live DJ, bracket boards, and color commentary from team staff. The winning duo gets a gold paddle trophy and, reportedly, first dibs on clubhouse music privileges for a week.
Other clubs have followed suit. The Mariners host a “Paddle Royale” that includes minor leaguers, coaches, and even front office staff. Rumors swirl that the Cubs are in talks with a Chicago-area pickleball sponsor for an in-season charity tournament to be played on an off-day.
Coaches and Staff Get in on the Action
It’s not just players getting into the game. Managers, trainers, and coaches have also embraced pickleball. Dusty Baker was known to be a silent assassin on the court before his retirement, and current Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has been spotted giving lessons to younger players.
“There’s something universal about the game,” Mendoza said. “It’s competitive, it’s funny, and it brings everyone together. You learn a lot about a guy when he’s down 8-2 in a game to 11.”
Trainers also love it—it’s great for footwork, reflexes, and lateral movement without putting too much stress on knees and hips. Teams are even beginning to incorporate light pickleball drills as part of recovery or conditioning routines.
What’s Next?
With the rising popularity and media attention, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see MLB formally embrace pickleball as an offseason promotional tool. Imagine an All-Star Weekend pickleball tournament, with players from rival teams teaming up in doubles, miked-up for live TV.
There’s even talk—half-joking, half-serious—of an MLB Pickleball League forming in the offseason. With many players spending winters in Arizona or Florida, the infrastructure already exists.
One thing is clear: pickleball isn’t just a passing clubhouse craze—it’s becoming a cultural phenomenon within Major League Baseball. And as long as there are bragging rights on the line, the rivalries—and the highlight reels—will only get more intense.
So next time you’re watching a game and see a shortstop jawing at a pitcher between innings, it might not be about the last pitch. It might be about that missed return down the line two nights ago.
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