Daniel De La Rosa

Daniel De La Rosa is what happens when a three-time world No. 1 racquetball player decides to pick up a new sport. The Mexico-born, dual-citizen athlete dominated the International Racquetball Tour from 2021 to 2023 while moonlighting in pickleball, casually winning a 4.5 doubles title at the 2017 Nationals shortly after first trying the sport. When he finally committed to pickleball full-time in 2024, the transition was seamless. His racquet sport IQ, hand speed, and shot-making ability translate perfectly to the smaller court.

De La Rosa's resume reads like a highlight reel across sports: Pan American Championships gold medalist, World Championships doubles gold, 78 total racquetball championships, and now a Challenger Level title with the Brooklyn Aces in Major League Pickleball. He was part of the MLP Chimeras team that won the inaugural Pritchard Cup in 2022, giving him a championship pedigree from day one. Based between San Antonio, TX, and Gilbert, AZ, De La Rosa also produces instructional content through "Fundamental Pickleball," because apparently being elite in two professional sports wasn't enough to keep him busy.