WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 5, 2016) – President Mark O’Neal of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) announced that the Cleveland Indians have been named the 2016 Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year at the MLB Winter Meetings in Washington, D.C.
This award is given annually to one Major League Baseball athletic training staff. The award is voted on by the full PBATS membership, which consists of Major League Baseball athletic trainers.
The Indians’ athletic training staff includes Senior Director of Medical Services, Lonnie Soloff, Head Athletic Trainer, James Quinlan, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Michael Salazar, and Assistant Athletic Trainer, Jeff Desjardins.
“I am extremely proud to announce that the Cleveland Indians athletic training staff has been named the Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year,” O’Neal said. “Lonnie, James, Michael and Jeff do a fantastic job each and every year, but this year, they were the best. It’s always an honor to win an award that is voted on by your peers, and I know these guys will cherish this. I’m extremely proud of them and all PBATS members for the work that these guys do to keep players healthy and to help make baseball the great game that it is.”
In 2015, the Houston Astros won the award, with a staff that included Nate Lucero, Rex Jones and James Ready.