A Message of Gratitude and Focus for the Season Ahead
By Nick Kenney, PBATS President
Nick Kenney, President
As Opening Day arrives, the excitement of a new Major League Baseball season is upon us. For players, coaches, and fans, it’s the start of another journey toward October. But for athletic trainers, it’s also a reminder of the critical role we play in keeping the game healthy and ensuring that athletes are prepared to perform at their best.
For more than 40 years, PBATS members and athletic trainers have been an integral presence in the Major League clubhouse and dugout, providing expert medical care, injury prevention, and rehabilitation to the world’s best baseball players. As the demands of the sport continue to evolve, so does our profession. Today, we are proud to see increased athletic training staff across both Major League and Minor League Baseball, highlighting the value that ATCs bring to the health, safety, and longevity of players at every level of the game.
As we look back at 2024, I’d like to extend a special congratulations to the Detroit Tigers athletic training staff for being named the 2024 PBATS MLB Staff of the Year. Their dedication, professionalism, and expertise exemplify the standard of excellence that athletic trainers uphold throughout the league. Additionally, we are proud to honor Rick Griffin and Mark Letendre as the newest inductees into the PBATS Hall of Fame—a well-deserved recognition for their decades of service to our profession and the game of baseball.
Beyond the Major League level, PBATS remains committed to identifying and developing the next generation of athletic trainers through our internship program and scholarships. These initiatives provide invaluable opportunities for aspiring professionals to gain hands-on experience and prepare for careers that will impact the health and well-being of future MiLB and MLB players.
PBATS also continues to strengthen its longstanding partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to education and player health. We are proud to extend our collaboration with the Taylor Hooton Foundation, Henry Schein, MLB Charities, and Song for Charlie for another year of the PLAY Campaign. This initiative continues to be a powerful platform for educating young athletes about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs, the importance of healthy choices, and overall player safety.
In addition to the PLAY Campaign, PBATS’ Ability Transcends Challenges program (ATC) will once again honor businesses in MLB cities that are doing the fantastic work of promoting disability employment in sports and in the workplace. This summer, 20 businesses in 20 different MLB cities will receive the 2nd annual Ability Transcends Challenges award. Stay tuned for more information on this project as the summer moves along. A huge thanks to our friends at the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and United States Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) for their partnership on this awards campaign through our ATC program.
As we embark on another season, I encourage everyone to stay connected with PBATS and the work of athletic trainers across the league. Be sure to tune in to the Inside Athletic Training Podcast, where we highlight the latest developments, stories, and initiatives that shape our profession.
To all athletic trainers across MLB and MiLB, thank you for your dedication to this game and the athletes who play it. Your hard work behind the scenes is vital to the success of every season. Here’s to another great year of baseball, and most importantly, to keeping the game and its players healthy.
Wishing everyone a safe and successful 2025 season!
Nick Kenney
President, PBATS