Brian Ebel
Brian Ebel begins his 7th year as Head Athletic Trainer, his 28th year in Major League Baseball, and 40th as a member of the Baltimore Orioles athletic training staff. Ebel is just the fourth Head Athletic Trainer in Orioles History since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954. He received the 2023 Major League Athletic Training staff of the year award along with his staff of Mark Shires, Pat Wesley and Chris Poole. In 2022, Ebel received the National Athletic Trainer’s Association’s (NATA) prestigious Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. In June of 2022, he was also elected into the Maryland Athletic Trainer’s Association Hall of Fame. In March of 2021, Brian received a faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In 2017, Ebel received his-20 year Major League Service award. Brian was one of the recipients of the 2012 PBATS President’s Distinguished Service award for his work on Electronic Medical Records. He was a recipient of the 2011 Major League Athletic Training staff of the year award along with Richie Bancells. He began his career with 12 years in the Orioles farm system, Working his way up through the ranks with affiliates in Bluefield, W.Va. (Rookie League); Erie, Penn. (Class A); and Hagerstown, Md. (Class AA). From 1992 to 1996, he served as the O’s Head Minor League Athletic Trainer and rehabilitation coordinator in Sarasota, Fla. The Versailles, Ind. native received scholarships in 1985 from PBATS, and in 1986 from Eastern Kentucky University, his alma mater and was honored as a distinguished alumnus in 1999. In 2003, he earned an MBA degree from Johns Hopkins University. In 2004, Ebel completed an administrative residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Ebel was an Athletic Trainer for the American League at the 2007 All-Star Game. Ebel served on the Major League Baseball Medical Advisory Board from 2003-2017. Brian serves on the National Athletic Trainer’s Association Scholarship committee. He returned to the MLB Medical Advisory committee in 2022. As an original member of the steering committee for Electronic Medical Records, He now serves as Chairman of that committee for MLB. He also has served on the MLB Concussion committee. Brian also serves as a Co-Chair of the Maryland Athletic Trainers Association Ethics Committee. He has also serves on the PBATS Gatorade Advisory Board. Ebel served on the PBATS Board as the American League Assistant Athletic Trainer Representative from 1999-2005. He also served on the Board of Directors for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Maryland (UCP) from 2005-2010. In 2011, Ebel Traveled to Taiwan as part of the MLB All-Star series tour. In May 2012, Ebel was awarded a United States Patent for an Orthopedic device to aid in the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs during weight bearing activities. He is a Certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Maryland Athletic Trainers Association, a licensed athletic trainer in Maryland, Virginia and Florida, as well as a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Ebel has two sons, Brady and Brett.
Mark Shires
Mark Shires begins his 7th year as Major League Assistant Athletic Trainer and 26th year as an Athletic trainer in the Orioles’ Organization. He received the 2023 Major League Athletic Training staff of the year award along with Brian Ebel, Pat Wesley and Chris Poole. A native of Crofton, MD he has previously made stops at five levels of the Orioles farm system, spending eleven years in Norfolk (Class AAA, 2007-2017), three years in Bowie (Class AA, 2004-06), three years in Frederick (Class A, 2001-03), and one year in Delmarva (Class A, 2000). He is a newly appointed member of the MLB electronic records committee. He began his career with the Orioles in the Gulf Coast League in 1999, after previously serving as an intern for Bowie from 1996-1997. Mark was selected to represent Norfolk and the International League in the 2013 Triple-A All-Star Game and Bowie in the 2004 Eastern League All-Star Game. He was named the 2011 and 2009 International League Athletic Trainer of the Year and Carolina League Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2003 and 2001. Shires worked the Arizona Fall League in 2004 at Peoria and at Mesa in 2011. He is a Certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, and licensed in Maryland, Florida, and Pennsylvania and also holds the National Academy of Sports Medicines Certification, Performance Enhancement Specialist. Shires received a degree in athletic training from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 1998 and then completed his master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania in 2004. In 2006 Mark married Alison Gardiner-Shires, Professor of Athletic Training at West Chester University. They have a son, Arthur John “AJ.”
Patrick Wesley
Patrick Wesley is entering his 7th season as an Assistant Athletic Trainer, after previously spending 18 years in the Baltimore Orioles Minor League System. He received the 2023 Major League Athletic Training staff of the year award along with Brian Ebel, Mark Shires and Chris Poole. Most recently he served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the AA Bowie Baysox (2015-2017). Wesley was named Carolina League Athletic Trainer of the year in 2013 and South Atlantic league Athletic Trainer of the year in 2008 and 2009. In 2009 he was also selected to represent the Baltimore Orioles Organization as an Athletic Trainer for the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League. He received his Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training in 2001 from McKendree University in Lebanon, IL. Wesley is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and is licensed to practice Athletic Training in both Maryland and Florida. Wesley currently resides in Frederick, MD with his wife Jessica, twin sons Chase and Caleb, and daughter Chloe.
Chris Poole
Chris Poole is entering his third season as the Assistant to the Head Athletic Trainer and 12th year as a member of the Baltimore Orioles Athletic Training staff. He received the 2023 Major League Athletic Training staff of the year award along with Brian Ebel, Mark Shires and Pat Wesley. He spent previous seasons serving as the club’s Secondary Compliance Officer for health and safety protocols in 2021 and Primary Compliance Officer in 2020. Poole was selected to represent the Orioles as an Athletic Trainer for the Glendale Desert Dogs in 2014 and was the Head Athletic Trainer for the Gigantes del Cibao of LIDOM in 2016. Poole received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Towson University in 2010 and his Master of Science degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Physiology from William Paterson University in 2012. He is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, and the Maryland Athletic Trainers Association and served as the Member at Large for the Mid- Atlantic Athletic Trainers Association from 2017-2019. He currently resides in Columbia, MD with his wife Kristina and daughter Josephine.