Pickleball is everywhere these days, and it is too tempting to say no and ignore the sport. Its popularity has skyrocketed in the United States, with tennis players and corporate sponsors leading the charge. In fact, many avid picklers are former tennis players who find pickleball more appealing than the sport they left behind. Until recently, it was unheard of for pickleball to make significant inroads into any sport outside of tennis. According to ESPN, pickleball has become a surprising hot topic within Major League Baseball (MLB). The sport has quickly gained traction as a favourite training activity among players and staff. Its popularity has grown so much that some teams have even built dedicated pickleball courts at their spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida. "It is the most-hotly-talked-about topic in my seven years with the (Los Angeles) Dodgers," pitching coach Mark Prior conceded. Great Away To Build Camaraderie MLB players, coaches, umpires, and officials are so hooked on the sport that pickleball matches have almost become the norm. It is now the preferred off-day activity among MLB's seasoned-pros. A member of the Texas Rangers’ support staff explained why this racquet sport has become so popular, despite having entirely different rules and dynamics from baseball. While the two sports differ greatly, their shared use of a bat and ball might offer a familiar feel that draws players in. "It is a great way to stay active. There is camaraderie. Teamwork. It gets our juices going," Mark said. The craze is not just limited to practice sessions alone. Milwaukee Brewers' infield coach Matt Erickson is currently MLB's No. 1 in pickleball. He is also the team’s VP of pickleball operations. Matt Arnold sits right behind him at No. 2 in the rankings. MLB's passion for pickleball, however, is not just a mere adventure to experience a newly minted sport. The rise in pickleball’s popularity over its rival racquet sports within the world’s most fiercely competitive baseball league is a well-calculated move. "High-level of paddle skill to both sides, savvy, psychological advantage over opponents, high motor, high intent, Larry Bird-type competitor," Arnold said. Pickleball has also become a great opportunity to dismantle the monotony of spring for the Dodgers. But for the Texas Rangers, it became an essential component of their 2023 march to the organization's first world championship. The Rangers' support staff was so obsessed with the sport that they were even playing outdoors in 40-degree temperatures in Chicago early this season. The group, led by team physical therapist Regan Wong, has been at it for several years. There are also unofficial rivalries, with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners playing pickleball between themselves, with the Rangers losing. Too Much Obsession A Drawback? Some teams like the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres have even gone to the extent of launching their in-house tournaments on road trips, with the coaching staff, officials, and players forming their own teams to compete on a new court. And it is not a friendly tournament. Sometimes, the competition gets so heated that the pickleball tournament has to be stopped just to maintain calmness. And that, perhaps, is a drawback. Dodgers star Mookie Betts is well known for his skills on the pickleball court, but he told ESPN he will be back to playing more golf. His decision may be influenced by Dodgers' president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. "We had many a conversation about it last spring. I do not think it is a great thing for the Dodgers' ultimate success for a lot of guys to be playing pickleball," he observed. However, not all teams are on the same page. One player who is very serious about pickleball is former All-Star JD Martinez, who is currently a free agent and might soon shift his allegiance to pickleball as his future in baseball does not look too promising these days. Martinez has already signed with JOOLA, a major brand in pickleball, which has signed some of the greatest players in the sport, including Ben Johnson. If media reports are to be believed, he has already started working on a transition to professional pickleball. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Pickleball, Sports and around the world.