PBATS NAMES 2015 MINOR LEAGUE ATHLETIC TRAINERS OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (Aug. 19, 2015) – President Mark O’Neal of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) today announced the winners of the Minor League Athletic Trainers of the Year Awards for the 2015 baseball season. These awards are given annually to one member of each of the 16 leagues in Minor League Baseball, as well as one award for the Dominican Summer League. An additional award is given to the Minor League Coordinator of the Year.
“I am very proud to announce PBATS’ Minor League Athletic Trainers of the Year,” O’Neal said. “These athletic trainers made an impact on their entire league and stood out in 2015 as the best at their craft in their respective leagues. I am honored that they all showed the dedication and professionalism it took to keep their players on the field. This group represents the bright future that lies ahead for PBATS.”
All 16 league winners, the Dominican Summer League winner and the Minor League Coordinator of the Year will now be eligible for the prestigious Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year award voted upon by the full membership of PBATS. That award will be given at the 2015 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn.
The Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year will also be awarded at the 2015 MLB Winter Meetings. Last season, Todd Tomczyk, Ben Potenziano and Jeremiah Randall of the Pittsburgh Pirates took home the award. Like the Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year award, the Major League award is voted on by the full membership of PBATS.
Award Winners:
League Winner Organization
| Coordinator | Joe Benge | Tampa Bay Rays |
| International League | Scott Johnson | Chicago White Sox |
| Pacific Coast League | Brian Reinker | Los Angeles Angels |
| Eastern League | TJ Saunders | Detroit Tigers |
| Southern League | Shane Nelson | Chicago Cubs |
| Texas League | Greg Spence | Los Angeles Angels |
| Florida State League | Kyle Utne | Cincinnati Reds |
| California League | Travis Tims | Oakland Athletics |
| Carolina League | James Stone | Kansas City Royals |
| Midwest League | Rafael Freitas | Arizona D’Backs |
| South Atlantic League | Trek Schuler | Baltimore Orioles |
| New York – Penn League | Dan Martin | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Northwest League | Reggie Mungrue | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Appalachian League | Steve Taylor | Minnesota Twins |
| Pioneer League | John Duff | Colorado Rockies |
| Arizona League | Toby Williams | Chicago Cubs |
| Gulf Coast League | Troy Hoffert | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Dominican Summer | Martiza Castro | San Diego Padres |
Press Contact: Sam Radbil | 414.614.9909 (cell) | sam@theromanogroup.com