Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I’m a Braves fan … but the 2024 Phillies are icons for this.
Paco Figueroa, who is the outfield coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, is helping his players improve on fielding, movement and communication. And how is he doing this?
By playing pickleball.
I’m serious, the Phillies are using elements of pickleball, foursquare and squash to skyrocket their skills. (RELATED: Chris Sale Was Filthy In His Spring Debut For The Atlanta Braves, But Will It Last Considering His Injury History?)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 24: Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies makes a catch for an out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning in Game Seven of the Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 24, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
They call it Pacoball, where players use pickleball paddles, but instead of using a wiffle ball, they use a racquetball. Also, no net is used in this version of pickleball, only a stretch of grass that’s 30×30. And another element, to mimic baseball gloves, is the players holding paddles in their non-dominant hands — which I find to be absolutely brilliant.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: Manager Rob Thomson #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a portrait during photo day at BayCare Ballpark on February 22, 2024 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a portrait during photo day at BayCare Ballpark on February 22, 2024 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a portrait during photo day at BayCare Ballpark on February 22, 2024 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“It helps with a lot of things,” Figueroa told Sports Illustrated. “Moving different directions, agility, you gotta drop to get the ball, go in to hit it. I envision our three outfielders [across from another set of three outfielders] doing a lot of communicating — ‘I got it, I got it’ — and you’re switching positions.”
Morning pickleball with the fellas pic.twitter.com/Krwcpn4LSO
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) February 23, 2024
I love pickleball — I play it to work out, to be entertained, all of it, so the Phillies are definitely getting some love from me on this. So much so, that I’m willing to place a World Series champion futures bet on these guys.
Pickleball is just too damn great, and who knows, maybe the Phillies’ love for it can cash me out this October.