Major League Athletic Trainers

Atlanta Braves

Jeff Porter
Position: Head Athletic Trainer
College Attended: UNC-Wilmington,(B.A.) University of Denver, (M.A.)
Years in MLB: 26
Jeff Porter, 54, is entering his eighth season as Head Athletic Trainer for the Atlanta Braves, after working with Dave Pursley as Assistant ATC for 18 years. His desire to treat athletic injuries began in college, and led him to a 1995 World Series title with the Braves. A Wilmington, N.C., native, Porter began his career as student athletic trainer at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in 1974 and continued an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Denver in 1979. He worked his way up through the Minor Leagues with the Denver Bears, Jamestown Expos, Memphis Chicks, and the Indianapolis Indians before being promoted to the Braves’ Major League club in 1985. Porter has help host the PBATS Baseball Team Medicine Conference three times while in Atlanta. He also was honored to serve as National League athletic trainer at the 1996 and 2008 MLB All-Star Game. Other honors include, GATA Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 2008, and the SEATA Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2008. Porter lives in Loganville, Ga., with his wife, Kathy, and son, David Ray, and enjoys golfing, hunting, and fishing.

Jim Lovell
Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer
College Attended:
Years in MLB: 4
Following 18 seasons in the Braves Minor League system, Lovell joined the Major League club on a full-time basis in 2003 after serving as the head Minor League athletic trainer, coordinating the Minor League medical staff, and covering the AAA Richmond club from 1991 to 2002. Lovell joined the Braves organization in 1985 and spent six seasons with the AA Greenville Braves. While in Greenville, Lovell earned the Southern League Trainer of the Year honors three times and was selected for the Southern League All-Star games three times. Until 1992, Lovell spent his off-seasons as an athletic trainer with the Auburn University football program. In addition, during the 1992 and 2000 seasons, he served as the interim assistant trainer for the Braves while former head athletic trainer, David Pursley, was out with injuries. Lovell joined the Major League staff on a permanent basis in September 2002. Lovell holds a bachelor's degree in community health and a master's degree in exercise physiology. In 1991, Lovell served as athletic trainer for the AAA All-Star Game. Lovell is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and is certified as an athletic trainer by the NATA. A bachelor, "Lovey" lives in Newnan, Ga., and enjoys golfing, reading, and listening to country western music.