Pickleball Takes Over Milwaukee Brewers

0:00It's April 19. You're listening to Milwaukee Brewers News today, AI-powered coverage of your squad. Pickleball is taking over the Milwaukee Brewers like a viral hit single. It kicked off three years ago with third-base coach Matt Erickson, who got hooked after a stepmom dragged into a court. Now the whole coaching staff, front office, and even some support crews are in on it. Turning downtime into fierce matches that build team vibes. Things exploded in spring training when they set up courts near the cages. First, it was just a few like Erickson, hitting coach Jason Lane, and president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. Next year they doubled the courts, pulling in more folks from strength training to the bullpen, mixing departments like a killer colab track. Players love how the strategy mirrors baseball. Reading hops on defense like infieldwork, targeting weak spots on offense like smart pitching. Senator Mark Atenasio saw the bonding power and built a court right at American Family Field for quick games.

1:01It's their healthy escape, fueling competition without the grind. The buzz even hit pro pickleball circles. Erickson jams with top players like Chris Headings and Gear Company Jula hook them up with paddles. Everyone agrees. Erickson's the king of the court, but they pack paddles for road trips, scouting parks for morning battles before ballpark duties. This reset keeps their minds sharp through the long season, swapping golf clubs for paddles since it's easier to travel and just as addictive. It's got that competitive edge that translates right back to helping the team win big.