Written by Mark Gonzalez (mgonzales@chicagotribune.com / Twitter @MDGonzales)
Herm Schneider’s 40th and final season as the White Sox head athletic trainer will be remembered fondly.
Schneider, who will become trainer emeritus next season, and assistants Brian Ball and Brett Walker were named the 2018 Major League Baseball athletic training staff of the year by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS).
The Sox announced later that Ball, an assistant trainer since 2001, was promoted to head trainer, with Walker (major league physical therapist/assistant athletic trainer) and James Kruk (major league assistant athletic trainer) receiving new titles.
During that span, the Sox have used the DL 185 times for a total of 9,057 days missed, both the lowest totals in the majors. They led the American League in fewest player days missed eight times in that span and finished second four times.
“To win an award voted on by your peers means a lot to any professional, and we couldn’t be happier for the White Sox staff,” said PBATS President Mark O’Neal, the Cubs director of medical administration. “These three men have worked tirelessly for the White Sox organization and for the players in their care, while showing amazing character as ambassadors for athletic training in Major League Baseball.”
The Sox also hired Mike Reinold as senior medical advisor. Reinold is owner of Champion Physical Therapy and Performance in Boston and was a member of the Red Sox’s medical staff from 2006-12.
Original article here via Chicago Tribune.