Nick Paparesta
Nick, 51, is entering his second season as the Head Athletic Trainer with the Minnesota Twins, after spending 12 years with the Oakland Athletics in the same role. Prior to Oakland, he had the prestigious honor of working for three seasons as an assistant athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent his first two seasons with the Rays as Minor League Athletic Trainer and Rehabilitation Coordinator, where he was responsible for overseeing all minor league athletic trainers and rehabilitation with minor league players, as well as assisting with the major league club. A native of North Fort Myers, Fla., Paparesta started his career working in the Cleveland Indians organization for 11 seasons, including three with Triple-A Buffalo. He is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, and is certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). In 2009, Paparesta shared honors with Ron Porterfield and Paul Harker of the Tampa Bay Rays as “Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year.” Paparesta had the honor of being the Head Athletic Trainer for the American League team during the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami, FL. In 2019, Paparesta shared honors with Jeff Collins and Brian Schulman of the Oakland A’s as “Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year.” Nick and his wife, Kristel, reside in Queen Creek, AZ with son Noah, daughter Alaina, and Champ, his Golden Retriever.
Masa Abe
Masamichi Abe is entering his 7th season in the major leagues as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Minnesota Twins. Abe spent seven seasons as a minor league athletic trainer for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, spending 2016-17 with Triple-A Reno, 2014-15 with Double-A Mobile, 2013 with High-A Visalia, 2012 with Rookie-Missoula, and 2011 with the AZL Diamondbacks. He also trained for the Japanese Team during the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and in the Arizona Fall League in 2013 and ’14. He was named 2017 Pacific Coast League Athletic Trainer of the Year and 2012 Pioneer League Athletic Trainer of Year. He graduated with a degree in exercise science from the University of Arkansas, including a master’s degree in biomechanics, there he also served as graduate assistant athletic trainer for U of A baseball team 2008-2010. He was athletic trainer/strength conditioning intern in 2007. He earned a B.S. in Kinesiology – Athletic Training from the University of Northern Colorado. Abe is originally from Nagoya, Japan and recently resides in Hiroshima, Japan with his wife Naomi & son Kaito & Sota.
Jason Kirkman
Jason Kirkman is entering his second season as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Minnesota Twins. Prior to being hired by the Twins in 2020, Kirkman was with the Andrews Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Nemours Children’s Health System in 2019. He also brings 18 years of baseball experience as an athletic trainer. Kirkman began his professional baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies organization at Low-A Batavia (2003), moved to Single-A Lakewood (2004-05), Double-A Reading (2007), Triple-A Lehigh Valley (2008-11), and High-A Clearwater (2006, 2012-13). From there he was with the Atlanta Braves as the Athletic Trainer at the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Braves (2014). Kirkman also served as an athletic trainer with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and was with High-A Rancho Cucamonga (2015-16) where he was the California League Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2016. He also spent time in Double-A Tulsa (2017) and at Triple-A Oklahoma City (2018). Kirkman also served as the athletic trainer for team Great Britain at the Baseball European Championships in 2019. In addition to his time in baseball, Kirkman has professional hockey experience in the West Coast Hockey League with the Tacoma Sabercats (2000-2002) as the head athletic trainer. He earned his Bachelor of Science with an athletic training option from Boise State University in 2000 and Master of Health Science with an athletic training option from Nova Southeastern University in 2007. Kirkman is an Idaho native and currently resides in Orlando, FL.