Eric Velazquez
Eric Velazquez begins his first year as the Astros Major League head athletic trainer after serving as an assistant athletic trainer for the past four years. Eric previously served as the Athletic Training Coordinator for the Boston Red Sox from 2019-2021, after serving as an affiliate athletic trainer in Triple A, Pawtucket (2017-2018), and Double A, Portland (2016). He began his professional baseball work with New York Mets at their Dominican Republic Academy in 2010 and also served as Latin American Coordinator (2011) and as an athletic trainer for the Short-A Brooklyn (2012-2013) and Single-A Savannah (2014-2015). Eric has served as athletic trainer for the World Baseball Classic (2017), as well as worked the Venezuelan Winter League (2014-2015), the Arizona Fall League (2012) and Dominican Winter League which included a Caribbean Series Championship in 2011. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Biology from the University of California, Davis and his Master’s in Athletic Training from Stephen F. Austin University. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Eric resides in Montgomery, Texas with his wife and two daughters.
Rafael Freitas
Rafael Freitas, 39, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is entering his first season as Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Houston Astros. Prior to joining the Astros, Rafael spent five seasons (2021-2025) as the Major League Head Athletic Trainer for the Pittsburgh Pirates and four seasons (2017-2020) as a Major League Assistant Athletic Trainer with the Milwaukee Brewers. He began his career as a minor league athletic trainer with the Cincinnati Reds (2012-2013) working at their Dominican Republic Academy. In 2014-2015 he served as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Low A Athletic Trainer (South Bend SilverHawks ’14, Kane County Cougars ’15) and spent the 2016 season as the AAA Athletic Trainer for the St. Louis Cardinals organization (Memphis Redbirds). Rafael worked with the Toros Azucareros del Este in Dominican Winter Ball in 2013 as well as serving as the Head Athletic Trainer for Team Brazil during the World Baseball Classic Tournaments in 2012-13 and 2016. In 2015 he was voted by his peers as the Midwest League Athletic Trainer of the Year. He earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Florida State University in 2010, master’s degree in sports and fitness from Florida International University in 2012 and a masters in high performance sports in 2025 from Australian Catholic University. Freitas is an NATA Certified Athletic Trainer and is also certified by the NSCA as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Rafael resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife Genevieve and two sons Hayden and Enzo.
Taylor Witczak
Taylor Witczak joined the Astros Major League staff as an assistant athletic trainer/physical therapist in 2023. Taylor previously served as the Minor League Rehabilitation Coordinator for the Miami Marlins from 2021-2022 as well as the Minor League Medical Coordinator for the 2022 season. Prior to beginning his career in baseball, he completed a seasonal athletic training/physical therapy internship with the San Francisco 49ers during the 2020 season. He received his Bachelor’s in Athletic Training degree and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Grand Valley State University (MI) where he completed internships with EXOS, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Northwestern University football. Additionally, he is currently a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through The National Strength and Conditioning Association. Taylor is from Hudsonville, Michigan and currently resides in Houston, Texas with his wife, Jessi, and their dogs, Izzy and Marlin.