Welcome to the Inside Athletic Training series with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society
As part of this series, both Major and Minor League Baseball athletic trainers, and PBATS alumni, will be sharing both personal and professional information about themselves, in order to help younger athletic trainers understand the life of a professional baseball athletic trainer, the variety of roads traveled within this profession, recommendations across a wide variety of topics, as well as some information about how these pros worked their way into professional baseball.
For this week’s Q&A, we sat down with Baltimore Orioles athletic trainer Sara Padilla.
What is a typical in-season day like for you as an athletic trainer in baseball?
I show up at the facility at 6 am, set up the athletic training room, set up fields with water, computer work, pre-workout treatments, workout coverage, pre-game treatments, game coverage, manage any new injuries/illnesses, complete injury notes, and throughout the day fit in other work tasks (scheduling appointments, obtaining medical notes, translating at doctor appointments, etc.).
What is your favorite aspect of athletic training in general?
Helping athletes heal post-injury and progress to return to play.
What is your best advice for young athletic trainers looking to get into baseball?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
How did you get your start as an athletic trainer in baseball?
Hired as a seasonal ATC in 2021 with an interest in working with Latin American athletes.
How important is learning at different levels of baseball (intern, A, AA, AAA) to becoming a successful athletic trainer at the highest level?
The lower levels give you a chance to learn without the pressure. It is also important to take camp and spring training opportunities to learn how a higher-level athletic trainer works and put that into practice at the lower levels, so you are prepared moving forward.
What is your favorite moment as a baseball athletic trainer?
Educating younger, international athletes about taking care of themselves.
What are your main hobbies outside of work?
Lifting weights.
What is a book (or two) that you’d recommend to upcoming athletic trainers and students?
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High.
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A huge thanks to Sara for contributing this information to the series. And please check back next week for another edition of the Inside Athletic Training series. If you’re interested in more content related to athletic training, please check out the Inside Athletic Training podcast on Apple Podcasts here.