SAN DIEGO (Dec. 9, 2022) — PBATS is proud to announce Roger Caplinger and Tom Probst as the winners of the 2022 PBATS President’s Distinguished Service Awards.
The first recipient of this year’s PBATS President’s Distinguished Service Award is Roger Caplinger of the Milwaukee Brewers. Roger began his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1990. He quickly moved up through the ranks in the Brewers organization. Along the way to becoming the Vice President of Medical Operations, Health and Safety, Roger was a part of the 2001 Brewers staff that was named MLB Athletic Training Staff of the Year. Roger also served as the National League Athletic Trainer in the 2002 All-Star Game.
Roger has served on the PBATS executive board and has worked tirelessly in leading the all-important EMR Committee. As an integral member of PBATS, Roger helped forge a warm and productive relationship with the Commissioner’s Office which has been greatly beneficial to PBATS as a society. Roger is an incredibly hard worker, a dedicated professional and a brother to all PBATS members.
An unquestionable leader and loyal supporter of his peers, Roger has been a truly incredible resource and friend to all PBATS members, and we are truly appreciative of his friendship, professionalism, and incredible passion for the safety and integrity of Major League Baseball. Please join us in congratulating Roger Caplinger as a recipient of the 2022 PBATS President’s Distinguished Service Award.
The second recipient of this year’s PBATS President’s Distinguished Service Award is Tom Probst of the Colorado Rockies. Tom began his career with the Colorado Rockies in 1992; he was the first-ever athletic trainer hired by the Rockies organization. In 1998, Tom was named the Head Athletic Trainer of the Rockies and held that position for six years until he was named Director of Medical operations for the club. In 2003, Tom and his staff were named MLB Athletic Training Staff of the Year, and he also served as an All-Star Game athletic trainer that same year.
Tom has been a member of the PBATS executive board for many years in multiple roles, most notably his incredible effort and dedication as the PBATS treasurer. An amazing friend, a loyal companion, and a model PBATS member, Tom has been an irreplaceable member of PBATS for many, many years, and we are truly appreciative of his passion for the society and for his amazing efforts in building PBATS into the society it is today. We could not have done it without him. Please join us in congratulating Tom Probst as a recipient of the 2022 PBATS President’s Distinguished Service Award.
“We are thrilled to honor both Roger Caplinger and Tom Probst,” said Ron Porterfield, President of PBATS. “Both of these great men have left the game of baseball and the profession of athletic training in a better place than when they started, and that’s something we all strive for. Roger and Tom are legendary athletic trainers who have helped to guide the profession into what it is today and we could not be more appreciative of them for their effort and dedication to their craft.”
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ABOUT PBATS: The mission of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) is to serve as an educational resource for the Major League and Minor League Baseball athletic trainers. For more information, please visit www.pbats.com