Ken Crenshaw
Ken Crenshaw, 56, is entering his seventh season as the Director of Sports Medicine and Performance after serving twelve years as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Crenshaw was the head athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2003 to 2005 and served as the assistant athletic trainer for the Rays from 1998-2002. While with the Rays, Crenshaw shared “Major League Baseball Athletic Training Staff of the Year” honors in 2005 and the “Dick Martin Athletic Training Staff of the Year” honors in 2004 with Ron Porterfield. He also served as the organization’s Minor League athletic training and conditioning coordinator for the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Prior to joining Tampa Bay, Crenshaw worked for seven years as a professional athletic trainer, including four years as Minor League conditioning coordinator for the Atlanta Braves from 1992 to 1995. He also served as an athletic trainer in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system from 1989 to 1991, working with affiliates in Princeton, W.Va., and Welland, Ontario. A native of Carrizozo, N.M., Crenshaw received an undergraduate degree in sports medicine from New Mexico State University in 1990. He is a certified member of the NATA and the (NSCA) National Strength & Conditioning Association. In his spare time, Crenshaw coaches youth football, basketball and baseball programs. Crenshaw, his wife, Robyn, and their sons, Wacy, Wyatt, and Dustin, reside in Chandler, AZ.
Ryan DiPanfilo
Ryan DiPanfilo, 39, is entering his seventh year as the Head Athletic Trainer after serving five years as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Diamondbacks. Before joining the Major League staff, DiPanfilo served as the organization’s Minor League Medical Coordinator (2011-2012). Prior to the 2011 season, he was the Head Athletic Trainer for the AA Mobile BayBears (2009-2010), High-A Visalia Oaks (2008), and Rookie Yakima Bears (2007). Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, DiPanfilo earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Springfield College (Springfield, MA) in 2006. He is a certified member of both the NATA and NSCA in addition to being credentialed with the Postural Restoration Trained (PRT) designation through the Postural Restoration Institute. A native of Saugus, MA, DiPanfilo now resides in Chandler, AZ with his wife, Kathryn, daughter, Kelly, son, Rhys, and daughter, Kamryn.
Max Esposito
Max, 31, enters his second season as D’Backs Assistant Athletic Trainer and seventh in the organization. He previously served as the Major League Physical Therapist (2022), Minor League Medical Coordinator (2020 & 2021) and Assistant Minor League Medical Coordinator (2019). Prior to the 2019 season, he was the minor league physical therapist (2017 & 2018). Max completed two separate six-month physical therapy internships with the Diamondbacks in 2014 & 2016. He was also a physical therapy clinical student with the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 for his final clinical rotation. Max graduated in 2016 from Northeastern University with a doctorate of physical therapy. Upon graduation from physical therapy school, he continued his education and graduated in 2017 from Idaho State University with his Master in Athletic Training degree. He is a member of the APTA as well as the NATA. He currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ and enjoys playing golf, camping, and skiing.
Junko Yazawa
Junko is entering her seventh season as assistant athletic trainer/manual therapist for the D-backs. Before joining the D-backs organization, Yazawa worked at ALTIS where she specialized in working with Olympic level track & field athletes. Prior to ALTIS, Junko served as an athletic trainer for several NCAA schools including stints at Arizona State University (2012-2014), Texas Christian University (2008-2011), & Long Island University Brooklyn Campus (2006-2008). Junko completed post-graduate athletic training internships with the baseball team at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2005 as well as a seasonal internship with the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League in 2004. She also completed a PBATS internship with the San Diego Padres in 2003. Junko has served several stints as an athletic trainer/medical staff with the USA Track and Field National Team for multiple international meets since 2004, including the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in 2007, 2013, 2015, and 2017, as well as the 2016 Rio & 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. She also was the manual therapist for the National League squad at the 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland. In addition, Yazawa was the manual therapist for the Gold Medal winning Team USA during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The Nagoya, Japan, native earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Mukogawa Women’s University in Hyogo, Japan, in 1997. She completed her Master of Education degree in physical education at Texas State University in 2002 and augmented that degree with another bachelor’s degree in exercise sports science, athletic training from Texas State in 2004. She is a certified member of the NATA and is a licensed athletic trainer in the state of Arizona and Texas.