Chapter 24: The 2025 Season Comes to a Close
By Adam Sparks, Pensacola Blue Wahoos Athletic Trainer (Miami Marlins AA Affiliate)
Tales of the Tape: My Journey as a Double-A Athletic Trainer is a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to support a professional baseball team through a grueling Double-A season—told through the eyes of Adam Sparks, the athletic trainer for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. While players chase their big-league dreams, Adam is working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep them healthy, prepared, and on the field. From early mornings in the training room to late-night treatments after walk-off wins (or tough losses), this series pulls back the curtain on the day-to-day life of a minor league athletic trainer—the routines, the challenges, the unexpected moments, and the heart that goes into a job most fans never see. We hope you enjoy following the journey. Now, let’s get started.
As the 2025 Minor League Baseball season comes to a close, so too does this year-long journey behind the scenes with Adam Sparks, Double-A athletic trainer for the Miami Marlins affiliate, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In this final installment, Adam reflects on the highs and lows of the last homestand, the bittersweet goodbyes, and the invaluable relationships built along the way. From managing daily treatments to coordinating exit physicals and packing up the season’s final supplies, it’s a fitting conclusion to a remarkable year of dedication, resilience, and care.
Monday, September 8th
I headed to the field today to unpack from our final road trip and begin prepping for the last home stand of the year against Columbus. Hard to believe this is the final week of the season.
Tuesday, September 9th
Got to the stadium around 10:00 am and started with the usual—training room and dugout prep, followed by check-ins with the manager and coaching staff. We rolled into treatments, maintenance/activation programs, and pitcher fatigue monitoring before heading outside for bullpens and on-field work. Caught up with the visiting team ATC for a bit, and then got back to prepping guys for the game. Our MD stopped by today, so we knocked out exit physicals on the full roster. After the game, I handled post-game care and recovery, filed notes, and headed home after a few special minutes with my family on the field.
Wednesday, September 10th
Back at it by 10:00 am—training room, dugout, manager check-ins, and the full slate of player care. After on-field drills and bullpens, I uploaded all exit physicals to the EMR. Same rhythm after the game: arm care, notes, cleanup, and goodbyes for the night.
Thursday, September 11th
Arrived around noon and dove into our standard flow—check-ins, treatments, monitoring, bullpens, and prep. Postgame, I again caught a few minutes with my family before handling arm care and recovery inside. We’re in a groove now, but there’s a hint of finality to everything this week.
Friday, September 12th
Same process, same precision. Every day looks similar—training room prep, treatment blocks, on-field work, recovery protocols—but every rep still matters. I’m reminded that consistency is one of our greatest strengths in this profession.
Saturday, September 13th
Another 10:00 am start. Everything rolled smoothly, but you can feel the season winding down. Each interaction with players or staff carries a little extra weight as we near the end.
Sunday, September 14th – Final Game Day
The last day of the 2025 season. I arrived at 9:00 am and set up for one final time. During pregame drills, a player reported discomfort—I notified the directors and performed an evaluation. Another player noted tightness shortly after, and with our MD on-site, I arranged evaluations for both. During the game, yet another player had to be removed for discomfort. Once again, the MD evaluated and I communicated everything to our leadership team.
After the final pitch, I collected exit questionnaires, packed up gear, and shared handshakes and goodbyes as players headed out for the offseason. Some are off to instructs, others home, and a few possibly to new opportunities. This part is always tough.
Reflection
As I close the book on the 2025 season, I’m filled with gratitude—for the relationships, the lessons, and the growth. This year challenged me, shaped me, and reminded me of the core values that matter most: consistency, compassion, and professionalism.
To Corey and Connor—thank you for the mentorship and support. To my wife—thank you for the love, sacrifices, and endless encouragement through the grind of a baseball season.
Above all, to the players—thank you for trusting me with your health and your careers. It’s a privilege I never take lightly.
Keep the players first. Always treat people the way you want to be treated. That never goes out of season.