Ben Johns and Collin Johns Withdraw from MLP Columbus: Ben Johns and Collin Johns have agreed to give up their payouts from the 2025 MLP Columbus event after withdrawing partway through the tournament. Major League Pickleball shared the news in a statement on Wednesday evening. The event was held at Pickle & Chill in Columbus, Ohio.
A source told The Dink that Ben has agreed to give up $60,000, while Collin will give up $18,000. These amounts are the payouts they would have received for the four matches they missed.
The brothers, who play for the Carolina Hogs, competed in two matches before withdrawing. They were concerned about the venue’s lighting, which they felt was unsafe.
After formal review of the events at the MLP Columbus 2025 event, it has been determined that Ben Johns and Collin Johns were granted permission to withdraw from their remaining matches through on-site league approval.
Ben Johns and Collin Johns have agreed to forfeit their…
— Major League Pickleball (@MajorLeaguePB) May 7, 2025
Withdrawal Due to Lighting Concerns
Ben Johns has vision damage from a sledding accident during childhood. He later explained the decision on X, formerly known as Twitter. He said, “The venue came nowhere close to meeting minimum lighting standards for professional tennis and that pickleball should adhere to those same standards.”
The levels of light here, by the numbers, are ~1/3 that of professional tennis. There have to be some minimum standards met. I would respect anyone’s choice not play in this, including his, disregarding my extra medical issue. H just got hit in the face. Coincidence? Maybe.
— Ben Johns (@BenJohns_pb) May 2, 2025
Carolina Hogs Affected
Without Ben Johns and Collin Johns, the Carolina Hogs had to bring in two alternate players—Martin Emmrich and Ross Whittaker—to fill the team. The Hogs went on to lose all four remaining matches of the weekend. Their record dropped to 0-6 in Columbus and 0-8 for the season so far.
View this post on Instagram
What’s Next for the Brothers
The Carolina Hogs will return at MLP Salt Lake City in early June. In the meantime, Ben Johns and Collin Johns are scheduled to compete in next week’s 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships.
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Collin Johns Withdraw from MLP Columbus
Ben Johns and Collin Johns withdrew from the 2025 MLP Columbus event due to poor lighting and gave up their prize money. The Carolina Hogs had to use substitutes and lost all matches. The brothers will return to action at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships before rejoining the Hogs in June.