Chapter 9: Staying Present, Staying Prepared
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.
Monday, May 26 – Reset & Repack
I spent the day restocking travel trunks and preparing for the trip to Montgomery. With another road week ahead, I took some time to catch up on computer work and—most importantly—enjoy some downtime with my family before we hit the road again.
Tuesday, May 27 – On the Road Again
The day started early at 7:30 a.m. to help load the bus. We hit the road at 9:00 a.m. and arrived in Montgomery ready to roll. After setting up the training room and dugout, I jumped into the routine: treatments, activation programs, and fatigue monitoring. After pitcher stretch and bullpens, we transitioned into game prep. During the game, I kept our directors updated on player statuses. Afterward, I handled postgame arm care, evaluated a player who reported discomfort, and got in my notes before heading to the hotel—and ending the night with a call to my wife.
Wednesday, May 28 – Building the Plan
I arrived early to re-evaluate the player who was injured the night before. After confirming the status, I worked with the home ATC to get their team doctor to the field for an evaluation. Huge credit to their medical team for helping us get everything lined up quickly. Once the evaluation was complete, I began setting up a clinic visit and imaging. The rest of the day followed the usual rhythm: treatments, bullpens, game prep, and postgame care. After the game, I wrapped up the day with notes, reports, and another late-night call home.
Thursday, May 29 – Coordinated Care
We left the hotel at 7:15 a.m. for our player’s appointment and imaging. Once completed, I uploaded everything to the EMR and got feedback from our team MD, who helped us develop a care plan. After updating the directors, it was back into the daily flow—treatment room setup, bullpens, game prep, and postgame routines. Another long day, but everything stayed on track thanks to great communication and teamwork.
Friday, May 30 – Rehab & Routine
I arrived around 9:30 a.m. to get rehab started early for our injured guys before the rest of the team showed up. After treatments, bullpen work, and pre-game prep, we rolled into the evening game. During the game, I sent director updates and handled postgame recovery before returning to the hotel to wrap up notes and check in with my wife.
Saturday, May 31 – Keep It Moving
Another 9:45 a.m. start to get ahead on rehab work. The day was smooth and structured: early treatments, full team care, bullpens, and game prep. It’s days like these that really reinforce how critical consistency is. Postgame followed the same steps—arm care, reports, cleanup, and then back to the hotel to reflect and reset for Sunday.
Sunday, June 1 – Flipping the Calendar
Hard to believe it’s already June. I packed up and got to the field around 9:00 a.m. for morning rehab work, then transitioned into game day mode: training room setup, pre-game work, and a unique 3:33 p.m. start time. A player reported discomfort before the game, so I did an evaluation and our team MD followed up postgame. After communicating updates and getting arm care done, we packed up and hit the road back to Pensacola. I used the bus ride to finish notes and catch a breath before we pulled in at 10:15 p.m.
Looking Ahead
This week reinforced a simple but important lesson: stay focused on the task at hand. With injuries, treatment plans, travel, and changing schedules, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos. But when you keep your focus on what’s right in front of you—taking care of the players and staying consistent in your approach—everything else takes care of itself.
We’re back home this week. Time to reset and keep going.