Todd Tomczyk
Todd Tomczyk begins his 15th season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Previously serving in roles as the Director of Sports Medicine & Head Athletic Trainer. Prior to his tenure in Pittsburgh, Todd spent five years as the assistant athletic trainer of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tomczyk begins his 28th season working in professional baseball. He spent 8 years in the minor leagues for the Cleveland Guardians farm system. Tomczyk spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as the Triple-A Buffalo Bison’s athletic trainer. He held the same position for the Double-A Akron during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. In 2002, he was named the Akron athletic trainer mid-way through the season, prior to being named the Akron athletic trainer, Tomczyk was the rehabilitation coordinator for the Indians (2001-2002). Todd spent the first half of the 2001 season and the entire 2000 season as the athletic trainer for the Columbus RedStixx. He held the same position of athletic trainer for the Burlington Indians during the 1999 campaign. Baseball honors include being selected as the team athletic trainer for the 2019 MLB All-Star game has worked with team South Africa during the 2006 & Team Itlay during 2026 World Baseball Classic. He was also selected as an athletic trainer in the Arizona Fall League (Mesa – 2003). In addition, was part of the PBATS ML Athletic Training Staff of the Year (2014). 2024 Recipient of the Visionary Award from the Pro Baseball Chiropractic Society. The Pittsburgh, PA native earned a Bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Duquesne University (1998), and Master’s degree in exercise science and performance enhancement from California University of PA in 2003. Tomczyk is CSCS and Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES). He is an adjunct faculty member at Duquesne University. Additional credentials include a Mental Health and First Aid instructor. Todd and his wife Colleen, reside in Pittsburgh, PA with their two daughters.
Luke Novosel
Luke Novosel, 33, is entering his 1st season as Head Athletic Trainer with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He previously held the role of Major League Assistant Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist for the Pirates during the 2025 season. Before joining the Pirates, he gained valuable experience over four seasons with the New York Mets from 2021 to 2024, where he primarily served as a Physical Therapist based in Port St. Lucie, FL. A native of Pittsburgh, Luke obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2014, where he was also a scholarship Division-I baseball athlete. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh in May 2018, completed a sports physical therapy residency at Houston Methodist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in August 2019, and earned his master’s degree in athletic training at Boston University in May 2021. His credentials include being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist since 2017 and obtaining board certification as a Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy in 2020. Luke holds numerous specialty certifications, including Active Release Technique, Fascial Manipulation, advanced spinal and extremity manipulation techniques, and dry needling. Luke resides in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife, Maggie, and their daughter, Halle.
Joel Harris
Joel Harris, 34, is in his first season as Associate Head Athletic Trainer with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Prior to entering professional baseball, Harris served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the University of Kentucky, where he worked extensively with Division I women’s gymnastics while completing his master’s degree. He also gained additional baseball-specific experience with the Cape Cod Baseball League and Villanova University. Additionally; Harris spent ten seasons with the Boston Red Sox organization in a variety of progressive roles. Most recently, he served as the Minor League Rehab Specialist in 2025 after three seasons (2022–24) as Minor League Athletic Training Coordinator. He began his professional career with the Red Sox as Assistant Athletic Trainer with Lowell in the New York–Penn League in 2016 before serving as Head Athletic Trainer from 2017–18. In 2019, he earned selection to work with the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. A native of South Strafford, Vermont, Harris earned his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Endicott College in 2013 and his master’s degree, with a specialization in athletic training, from the University of Kentucky in 2016. He resides in Fort Myers, FL, with his wife, Leah, and their son, Cooper.
Tyler Brooks
Tyler Brooks, 33, is in his first season as Asst. Athletic Trainer with the Pirates, 11th season with the organization. Tyler spent 2025 in his first year as MiLB Athletic Training Coordinator. Served 2022-24 seasons in AAA Indianapolis in addition to working with Argentina during the WBC qualifying tournament in the fall of 2022. Spent 2021 with AA Altoona and worked with the Peoria Javelinas during the Arizona Fall League. Served the West Virginia Black Bears as their ATC in 2019 and worked with the Gigantes del Cibao in the 2019 Dominican Winter League. Received Appalachian League Athletic Trainer of the Year honors with the Bristol Pirates in 2018. Also spent two years (2016-17) working at the Pirates academy for the Dominican Summer and Instructional Leagues. Spent part of the 2015 season working as an Intern Athletic Trainer with the Boston Red Sox in the DR. Graduated from Messiah College in 2015 with a B.S. in athletic training and in 2024 with a Masters in sports and health sciences from American Public University. Born and raised in Jonestown, PA, he currently resides in Bradenton, FL with his wife, Katelynn.
Koji Tanaka
Koji Tanaka is in his second season as the Massage Therapist with the Pirates organization. He spent the previous eight seasons with the Miami Marlins, serving as an interpreter for pitcher Junichi Tazawa in 2017-18 before assuming the role of Massage Therapist in 2019. He also spent two seasons (2019-20) as the Bullpen Catcher. Prior to joining the Marlins, Koji spent two years (2013-14) as a Massage Therapist and Athletic Trainer for LPGA golfer Chie Arimura. Tanaka received his degree in Kinesiology and Certified Athletic Training from Long Beach State in 2008. A native of Japan, Koji currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, with his wife Noriko and their three children: daughters Riko (7) and Miko (2) and son Koki (4).