Major League Pickleball announced a trade between the Premier level’s Texas Ranchers (8-6, 27pts) and the Challenger level’s California Black Bears (2-3, 5pts) on Tuesday morning.

Here are the details:

• California acquires Michael Loyd.
• Texas receives Rafa Hewett and cash considerations.
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Let’s get into how these moves impact each roster:

Texas: Christian Alshon, Eric Oncins, Rafa Hewett, Etta Tuionetoa, Tina Pisnik, Helena Jansen

Loyd filled up the third male roster spot for the Ranchers, so we can expect Hewett to do the same.

The crowd-favorite lefty struggled in his lone showing for California this season, posting a 1-9 record at MLP Austin.

It’s unlikely that we’ll see Hewett challenge either Alshon or Oncins for a starting spot, but a player of his caliber is a strong third option on any team and could be a priority waiver target for struggling teams going into next week’s Waiver Period #2.

Hewett’s first event as a Rancher will be the Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament, set to run July 9-13 in Grand Rapids, MI.

California: Michael Loyd, Juan Benitez, Lina Padegimaite, Layne Sleeth

Though Loyd wasn’t a regular starter for Texas, he got his first reps of the 2025 season in the team’s final match at MLP Daytona.

He went 2-0, winning both his men’s doubles and mixed doubles bouts against the SoCal Hard Eights.

Loyd also played a key role in the Frisco Pandas' (now Nashville Chefs) run to the Challenger level playoffs in 2024. 

His recent performance for Texas, as well as his prior MLP experience, should give Loyd plenty of confidence ahead of a critical two-week stretch for the Black Bears at Edward Jones MLP San Clemente and MLP New York.