The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) has joined forces with Medco Sports Medicine and Gatorade to bolster high school athletic training departments nationwide. This strategic initiative marks a significant step forward in supporting the crucial work of athletic trainers at the high school level and promises to elevate the standard of care for young athletes.
At the heart of this collaboration is the recognition of excellence within the athletic training community. PBATS, known for its dedication to advancing athletic trainer education, annually awards the Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year Award across all of the Minor Leagues in baseball. This prestigious accolade celebrates the outstanding contributions of athletic trainers within the minor league baseball system, honoring their commitment to player care.
Building upon this tradition of recognizing excellence, PBATS, along with Medco and Gatorade, has revitalized an initiative to extend support to high school athletic training departments. As part of this initiative, the winners of the PBATS 2023 Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year Awards are granted a unique opportunity to give back to their communities by selecting a high school of their choice to receive the Gatorade High School Performance Package of athletic training supplies.
The 2023 winners include:
- Coordinator: Nate Brooks (Oakland Athletics)
- International League: Jeffrey Paxson (Nashville Sounds + Milwaukee Brewers)
- Pacific Coast League: Jonathan Fierro (Salt Lake Bees + Los Angeles Angels)
- Eastern League: Coy Coker (Hartford Yard Goats + Colorado Rockies)
- Southern League: Seth Clapp (Tennessee Smokies + Chicago Cubs)
- Texas League: Alex Wolfinger (Springfield Cardinals + St. Louis Cardinals)
- Florida State League: Brandon Hammerstrom (Dunedin Blue Jays + Toronto Blue Jays)
- California League: Masa Koyanagi (Inland Empire 66ers + Los Angeles Angels)
- Carolina League: Nevan Dominguez (Columbia Fireflies + Kansas City Royals)
- Midwest League: Paden Eveland (Peoria Chiefs + St. Louis Cardinals)
- South Atlantic League: Carson Wooten (Winston-Salem Dash + Chicago White Sox)
- Northwest League: Dan LaBerry (Everett Aquasox + Seattle Mariners)
- Arizona Complex League: Cody Derby (ACL Padres + San Diego Padres)
- Florida Complex League: Brianna Spence (FCL Astros + Houston Astros)
- Dominican Summer League: Jorge Rodriguez (DSL Dodgers + Los Angeles Dodgers)
This philanthropic endeavor aims to address the essential needs of high school athletic programs, providing them with access to top-tier athletic training equipment and resources. With Gatorade High School Performance Package, these departments can enhance their capabilities, ensuring the safety, well-being, and performance optimization of student-athletes.
The significance of this partnership extends far beyond the provision of athletic training supplies. It underscores a shared commitment to fostering a culture of excellence in sports medicine and athlete development at the grassroots level. By empowering high school athletic training departments with the tools they need to succeed, PBATS, Medco, and Gatorade are investing in the future of sports and promoting the importance of comprehensive athlete care from the early stages of development.
Moreover, this initiative serves as a testament to the collective responsibility within the sports community to nurture talent, promote health and wellness, and create opportunities for aspiring athletes. It emphasizes the pivotal role that athletic trainers play in safeguarding the health and longevity of athletes across all levels of competition, from the minor leagues to high school sports arenas.
“For high school athletic training departments, the impact of this partnership is profound. Access to Gatorade High School Performance athletic training supplies equips these departments with resources that can make a tangible difference in the quality of care they provide to student-athletes,” said PBATS President Nick Kenney. “These supplies empower athletic trainers to optimize their practices and elevate standards of excellence within their programs,” added Kenney.
In essence, the collaboration between PBATS, Medco, and Gatorade represents an investment at the grassroots level and empowers high school athletic training departments, as these organizations are laying the foundation for a healthier, safer, and more prosperous sporting landscape for generations to come.
PBATS would like to thank both Medco and Gatorade for their ongoing support and for providing this opportunity to the winners of the 2023 Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year awards.