MLP Waiver Wire: Bellamy to Hard Eights, Whittaker Joins Sliders
What's the Score?
During the first waiver period of the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season, the SoCal Hard Eights made a roster change by claiming Roscoe Bellamy from the Columbus Sliders. This move, which sent Ivan Jakovljevic to Columbus, led the Sliders to subsequently waive Jakovljevic and add newly contracted pro Ross Whittaker to their team, with MLP making an exception to a typical rule to facilitate Whittaker's addition due to his local connection to Columbus.
Hit it deeper!
The first waiver period of the 2025 Major League Pickleball season recently concluded, and while only one move was made, it involved some notable roster adjustments for two teams. The SoCal Hard Eights initiated the activity by claiming Roscoe Bellamy from the Columbus Sliders.
Bellamy had recently played for the Columbus Sliders at MLP Columbus. He stepped in to replace the team's usual starter, CJ Klinger, and posted a 4-6 game record while contributing to the Sliders achieving a 3-2 match record at that event. His performance seemingly impressed the Hard Eights enough to make a bid for the former UCLA Bruin player.
According to MLP waiver wire rules, when a team claims a player, they must send a designated player back to the team losing the player. In this instance, the Hard Eights' successful bid for Bellamy resulted in Ivan Jakovljevic being sent to the Columbus Sliders.
However, the Sliders opted not to keep Jakovljevic on their roster. Instead, they chose to waive him and add Ross Whittaker. Whittaker is a newly contracted professional player who had previously served as an on-site alternate for the Carolina Hogs at MLP Columbus.
Adding Whittaker to the Sliders roster required a specific action by Major League Pickleball. Under the league's standard rules, players signed to UPA contracts after the Free Agency Drafts (which occurred after March 2nd) were typically not eligible to be claimed on waivers. Ross Whittaker was signed on May 2nd, which would normally fall under this restriction. However, MLP made an exception to this rule to allow the Sliders to pick up Whittaker. The league stated that this exception was made because Whittaker lives in Columbus, and it aligns with MLP's goal for teams to build fanbases and activate within their local markets. The league noted that for future waiver periods, starting with Premier Waiver Period #2 after MLP Daytona Beach in early June, eligibility for players signed after March 2nd will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Following these transactions, the updated rosters for the affected teams are: The SoCal Hard Eights now include Blaine Hovenier, Roscoe Bellamy, Ryan Fu, Judit Castillo, Irina Tereschenko, and Lauren Hidalgo-Smith. The Columbus Sliders' roster is now comprised of Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Ross Whittaker, Parris Todd, Lea Jansen, and Marcela Hones. Teams also have the option to change their bench players before the end of the first waiver period by emailing the league.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The first waiver period of the 2025 MLP season, though resulting in only one formal transaction, highlights the strategic considerations teams undertake to optimise their rosters. The SoCal Hard Eights' decision to claim Roscoe Bellamy based on his performance at MLP Columbus indicates teams are actively scouting players during events and looking for potential upgrades or strategic fits.
The subsequent move by the Columbus Sliders to acquire Ross Whittaker, facilitated by an exception to MLP's standard waiver rules, is particularly telling. It underscores MLP's commitment to fostering connections between teams and their local communities. Bending a rule to allow a Columbus-based player to join the Columbus team demonstrates the league's prioritisation of building local fan engagement and marketability, even when it involves navigating complex roster rules.
These transactions show the dynamic nature of MLP rosters early in the season. They also bring new players like Whittaker into key team roles, potentially impacting team chemistry and performance in upcoming events. The waiver wire serves as a mechanism for teams to react to player performance, injuries, or strategic needs, and this initial activity sets the stage for potential future moves as the season progresses towards the next waiver period.