Joe Benge
Joseph Benge, 45, is entering his sixth season as head Major League Athletic Trainer with the Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to his promotion to head athletic trainer, he spent seven seasons in the Rays organization, including six (2012-17) as minor league medical coordinator, overseeing all minor league athletic trainers and rehabilitation with minor league players while assisting the major league club. He was named 2015 Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) and served as the athletic trainer for the World Team at the Futures Game in San Diego in 2016. Joe joined the Rays organization in 2011 as the athletic trainer for Triple-A Durham, following 10 seasons (2001-2010) as an athletic trainer in the Baltimore Orioles system. In total, Joe has served as an athletic trainer for teams in Bluefield, WV; Aberdeen, MD; Salisbury, MD; and Bowie, MD reaching Double-A Bowie in his final seasons with Baltimore. Joe has also spent time in winter ball assignment in La Romana, Dominican Republic (2001-2002, 2002-2003) as well as Honolulu, HI (Honolulu Sharks) in 2007. Prior to that he graduated from Loyola (MD) University with a B.S. in biology in 1999 and received his master’s degree in kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University in 2010. He resides in Sarasota, FL and has a daughter Isla, age 13.
Mike Sandoval
Sandoval was promoted to first assistant athletic trainer in November 2021 after four years as assistant athletic trainer. Entering his 13th season in the Rays organization, he spent six years (2012-17) as an athletic trainer with Triple-A Durham. He was named an athletic trainer for the AL Team for the 2022 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. In 2021, he was named Rays Co-Employee of the Year as a result of his efforts and dedication as the club’s designated Infection Control Protection Coordinator (ICPC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, he begins his 37th season in professional baseball, including 25 years with the Pirates organization. From 2001-11, he was the Pirates assistant athletic trainer and major league rehab coordinator. In 2002 he and the Pittsburgh Pirates staff were named Major League Athletic Staff of the year voted on by their peers. In 2008 the Pittsburgh Pirates staff were named the Dick Martin Major League Staff of the year voted on by Baseball prospectus. He also worked for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009. Arizona Fall League in 1992 and 2000, Hawaii winter ball in 1993 and 1994 for Kauai Emeralds. Dominican Republic for Escogido in 1991 as well in Venezuela in 1990 for Maracay and in 2012 for Margarita. He began his professional career in 1987 as athletic trainer for the Watertown Pirates of the New York-Penn League. He has also worked with Rookie-level Princeton (1988), Class-A Salem (1989), Double-A Harrisburg (1990), Double-A Carolina (1991, 1997-98), Triple-A Buffalo (1992-94), Triple-A Calgary (1995), Augusta (1996) and Double-A Altoona (1999–2000). Sandoval graduated from New Mexico State University in 1988 with a degree in physical education and sports medicine. He and his wife, Dodie, have a son, Michael Jr.
Aaron Scott
Scott, 45, was named assistant athletic trainer for the major league staff in November 2021 and begins his 8th season with the Rays. He spent the previous four years as the minor league medical coordinator, overseeing all minor league athletic trainers and rehabilitation with minor league players while assisting the major league club. Prior to that, he spent one season as athletic trainer for Class-A Charlotte. He previously worked in the Philadelphia Phillies (2015-16) and Baltimore Orioles (2004-14) organizations. Scott was named the 2009 South Atlantic League Trainer of the Year while working for the Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles) and the 2016 Eastern League Athletic Trainer of the Year (Reading). He received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Northern Iowa, then completed two internships with the NFL’s Detroit Lions and was the assistant athletic trainer for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe in 2003 prior to joining the Orioles. Scott resides in Sarasota, FL.
Shinichiro Fukuda
Fukuda, 38, enters his 11th season in the Rays organization and fifth full season as major league ATC/acupuncturist. He provides acupuncture treatment to players and assists with daily treatment, prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of injuries. He served as minor league athletic trainer at the player development complex in Port Charlotte from 2015-19. Fukuda joined the Rays in 2014 as a seasonal assistant athletic trainer at the player development complex, which included minor league spring training, extended spring, the Gulf Coast League Rays and instructional league. Prior to the Rays, he completed internships with Auburn University’s baseball team (2014), EXOS (2013), the Nationals (2012-13), Diamondbacks (2012) and Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City (2011). He earned an associate degree in athletic training and acupuncture from Trident Sports Medical College in Nagoya, Japan in 2007. He received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Troy University in 2013 and his master’s in oriental medicine and acupuncture from East West College of Natural Medicine in 2018. Originally from Himeji, Japan, Fukuda and his wife, Shiori, live in Sarasota with their two children, Sara and Sana.