Inside Athletic Training

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By: The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society

The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society presents "Inside Athletic Training," a podcast providing an inside look at the life and careers of athletic trainers in professional, collegiate and high school sports. "Inside Athletic Training" is a must-listen for anyone interested in staying on top of the latest developments in the field of athletic training and sports medicine. The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society will take you behind the scenes of the most cutting-edge developments in the field of athletic training used to keep athletes at the top of their game. Whether you're a student, a practicing clinician or just a...

When Seconds Matter: Emergency Action Planning in Sports with Darryl Conway
#115
Yesterday at 6:00 PM

In this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we’re joined by Darryl Conway, MA, AT, ATC, FNAP, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Health & Welfare Officer for the University of Michigan Athletics. A member of the NATA Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Conway has spent decades advancing the athletic training profession through leadership, education, and advocacy.

In addition to his role at Michigan, Conway is the owner of Conway Ventures, LLC and Co-Owner, President and Chief Operating Officer of Sports Medicine Emergency Management, LLC.

In this conversation, we discuss emergency action planning in baseball an...


The Research Rundown (Ep. #2): Paul Buchheit (Philadelphia Phillies) & Joe Benge (Tampa Bay Rays)
#114
02/26/2026

In this episode of Research Rundown, host Paul Buchheit of the Philadelphia Phillies sits down with Joe Benge of the Tampa Bay Rays for a big-picture conversation on injury prevention and the evolving role of research in baseball.

Together, they discuss how data and experience intersect in player care, how research should inform — but not dictate — clinical decision-making, and what current trends mean for athletic trainers working at both the professional and youth levels. The conversation also touches on workload management, long-term player development, and the responsibility of medical staffs to balance performance with protection.

A th...


Will Carroll (Under the Knife) Talks Injury Trends & Baseball’s Billion Dollar Bleed
#113
02/19/2026

Today we’re joined by Will Carroll, nationally recognized injury expert and author of Under the Knife. Known for translating complex medical data into clear, actionable insight, Will brings a unique perspective on baseball’s evolving injury landscape and what he famously calls the game’s “billion-dollar bleed.”

We dive into the financial and competitive impact of injuries across Major League Baseball, the data trends shaping modern sports medicine, and how teams can better measure and manage injury risk. Will shares his thoughts on workload, UCL injuries, biomechanics, recovery science, and how communication between athletic trainers...


Tyler Brooks: Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Assistant Athletic Trainer
#112
02/12/2026

On this episode of the PBATS Inside Athletic Training Podcast, we’re joined by Tyler Brooks, Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tyler’s path to the big leagues is anything but typical, from his early career beginnings through impactful international experience in the Dominican Republic, Tyler brings a unique perspective on athletic training in professional baseball.

We dive into how his time in the DR shaped his clinical approach, built cultural fluency, and prepared him to navigate challenges in high-performance environments. Tyler also shares what it felt like...


Dr. Glenn Fleisig: Director of Biomechanics Research at the American Sports Medicine Institute
#111
02/05/2026

In this episode of the PBATS Inside Athletic Training Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Glenn Fleisig, one of the most accomplished and influential scientists in baseball biomechanics and sports medicine. Dr. Fleisig helped develop the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) alongside Dr. James Andrews and has spent nearly four decades advancing research on pitching mechanics, injury prevention, and player health.

We discuss Dr. Fleisig’s remarkable career journey, how biomechanics has transformed modern baseball, and the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future—from markerless motion capture to pitching labs and game data integration. The conversation also e...


Brandon Zumbach: Astros Minor League Medical Coordinator
#110
01/29/2026

On this episode of the PBATS Inside Athletic Training Podcast, we’re joined by Brandon Zumbach, Minor League Medical Coordinator for the Houston Astros. Brandon shares insight into overseeing player health and rehabilitation across an entire minor league system, the challenges of delivering consistent care at multiple levels, and how innovation, communication, and collaboration shape modern baseball sports medicine.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


The Research Rundown (Ep. #1): Joe Rauch, Paul Buchheit & Corey Tremble
#109
01/22/2026

The Research Rundown launches as a new monthly series from the Inside Athletic Training Podcast, focused on translating baseball sports medicine research into practical insight for athletic trainers.

In this inaugural episode, hosts Paul Buchheit and Joe Rauch of the Philadelphia Phillies are joined by Corey Tremble of the Miami Marlins to discuss recent research examining the association between hand size and UCL reconstruction in professional baseball players. The conversation breaks down the study’s key findings, clinical relevance, and how athletic trainers can interpret and apply th...


Dr. Amy Beacom: Minnesota Twins Team Physician
#108
01/15/2026

In this episode of the PBATS Inside Athletic Training Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Amy Beacom, Team Physician for the Minnesota Twins. Dr. Beacom discusses her journey into professional baseball, what it’s like working on a daily basis with MLB athletic trainers, and how collaboration, communication, and research guide player care throughout a demanding season. She also shares insight into the offseason responsibilities of a team physician and how medical teams balance performance, availability, and long-term player health at the Major League level. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Dr. Adam Feit: Springfield College (Sports Psychology, Exercise Science, Mental Performance)
#107
12/18/2025

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Adam Feit of Springfield College, a leader in high-performance consulting whose work spans sport psychology, strength and conditioning, coaching education, and nutrition. 

Dr. Feit shares insights on mental performance, working with athletes, and why mental skills are such a critical part of the athletic trainer’s role in high-performance environments.

A great conversation for anyone working in sports medicine, performance, or athlete development.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Corey Tremble: Miami Marlins Medical Director
#106
11/14/2025

In this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we’re joined by Corey Tremble, Medical Director for the Miami Marlins. Corey takes us inside his first year leading the Marlins’ athletic training and rehab team, sharing lessons learned, surprises along the way, and how he’s approaching offseason planning. We also dive into leadership, communication, staff development, and what he looks for when hiring the next generation of athletic trainers. Whether you’re a student, a young AT, or a veteran in the field, this conversation offers a valuable look at the evolving role of leadership in professional baseball.

For mo...


Jim Kahmann: Former Minnesota Twins Head Athletic Trainer & New Author
#105
10/30/2025

On today’s episode of the Inside Athletic Training Podcast, we’re joined by Jim Kahmann—former Head Athletic Trainer for the Minnesota Twins, longtime PBATS member, and now author of a new book sharing his journey through athletic training in the minor leagues. Jim spent decades in professional baseball and has a library of stories, lessons, and perspective from his time working in the game. Today, he joins us to talk about life on the road, athlete care in the early days of baseball sports medicine, and why he chose to doc...


Chelsea Willette: Red Sox Minor League Athletic Training Coordinator
#104
10/16/2025

In this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we sit down with Chelsea Willette, Minor League Athletic Training Coordinator for the Boston Red Sox. Chelsea opens up about her journey through professional baseball, her leadership role supporting athletic trainers across multiple affiliates, and the evolution of sports medicine within player development. She also discusses mentorship, innovation, and what it means to build trust and communication across an entire organization. A must-listen for anyone passionate about baseball, athletic training, or advancing athlete care at every level.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit...


Lauren Powers: Cincinnati Reds Minor League (High-A Dayton Dragons) Athletic Trainer
#103
09/11/2025

In this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we sit down with Lauren Powers, athletic trainer for the Dayton Dragons, the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Lauren opens up about her path into athletic training, the day-to-day realities of working in professional baseball, and what it means to be a woman in a historically male-dominated field.  

From building trust with young players, to balancing mental health, to the camaraderie that comes with life on the road, Lauren shares insightful stories and lessons from the training room. Whether you’re an aspiring athl...


Ben Potenziano: Current PGA Tour & Former MLB Athletic Trainer
#102
08/28/2025

On this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we sit down with Ben Potenziano, former PBATS Executive Board member and longtime MLB athletic trainer with the Giants, Pirates and Marlins, who now serves as an athletic trainer on the PGA Tour. Ben shares insights from his years in professional baseball, the unique demands of transitioning to golf, and what it takes to keep elite athletes performing at their best across two very different sports.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Dr. Michael T. Freehill: Athletics Head Team Physician & Stanford University Baseball Head Team Physician
#101
08/14/2025

On episode 101 of the Inside Athletic Training podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Michael T. Freehill—a rare blend of elite athlete and leading sports medicine physician. A former professional pitcher drafted by the California Angels, Dr. Freehill now serves as an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University, specializing in shoulder and elbow care, and is the Head Team Physician for the  Athletics and Stanford University Baseball. 

His career has spanned the pitcher’s mound, groundbreaking medical research, and leadership within Major League Baseball’s medical community. Today, we’ll explore his journey...


Luke Novosel: Pittsburgh Pirates Assistant Athletic Trainer & Physical Therapist
#100
07/31/2025

On this episode, we're joined by Luke Novosel, assistant athletic trainer and physical therapist for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Luke is in his first season in Major League Baseball and has built a career grounded in consistency, collaboration, and care for his athletes. 

We’ll talk about his path to the big leagues, his time spent playing Division 1 baseball at the University of Pittsburgh, what he’s learned along the way, and how the role of the athletic trainer continues to evolve in today’s game. Whether you’re a student looking to break into the...


Kandi Pickard & Colleen Hatcher: The National Down Syndrome Society
#99
07/17/2025

On this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we’re joined by Kandi Pickard and Colleen Hatcher from the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to talk about their impactful, long-standing partnership with PBATS. Together, NDSS and PBATS have worked to champion inclusion in baseball, sports, and the workplace through joint initiatives like the PLAY Campaign and the Ability Transcends Challenges program. Kandi and Colleen share how these programs are helping to shift perceptions, create opportunities, and build more inclusive environments across professional sports and beyond. Tune in for an inspiring co...


Neil Rampe: Chicago Cubs Assistant Athletic Trainer
07/03/2025

On this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we’re joined by Neil Rampe, Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Cubs. With over two decades of experience across Major League Baseball, Neil has held key roles with the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and now the Cubs—bringing a unique blend of expertise in athletic training, manual therapy, performance science, and strength and conditioning. Today, we dive into Neil’s career journey, his current role in Chicago, and how he continues to evolve within a profession that’s constantly pushing the boundaries of athlete care and performance.

For more informat...


Dr. Christopher Camp: Minnesota Twins Head Team Physician, Medical Director & Director of High Performance
#97
06/19/2025

Today’s guest is Dr. Christopher Camp, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with a deep focus on sports medicine and shoulder and elbow surgery. Since 2019, Dr. Camp has served as the Medical Director, Team Physician, and Director of High Performance for the Minnesota Twins, where he works closely with players, athletic trainers, and front office staff to keep athletes healthy and performing at their best.

Beyond the field, Dr. Camp is a leading researcher in the biomechanics of throwing, injury prevention, and surgical innovation. His work is shaping how we understand and treat injuries in overhead athletes—not just...


Nick Paparesta: Minnesota Twins Head Athletic Trainer
#96
06/05/2025

On this episode of the Inside Athletic Training podcast, we’re joined by Nick Paparesta, Head Athletic Trainer for the Minnesota Twins. With more than two decades of experience in professional baseball, Nick shares his journey through the athletic training ranks, from the minor leagues to leading a major league medical staff. We dive into his approach to injury prevention, the evolving demands of the profession, and the importance of communication between athletic trainers, front office personnel, and players. Nick also offers valuable insights for young professionals looking to make an impact in the field and discusses the innovation an...


Christian Bermudez: Philadelphia Phillies Assistant Athletic Trainer
#95
05/23/2025

In this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we sit down with Christian Bermudez, Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Philadelphia Phillies. With more than 13 years in professional baseball—including time in the DSL, GCL, Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A—Christian offers a powerful perspective on the grind, growth, and gratitude that come with a career in athletic training. He shares lessons from his journey, insights into the role of an MLB assistant athletic trainer, and advice for those looking to follow a similar path in the world of athletic training and sports medicine.

For more info...


Nick Jensen (Milwaukee Brewers) & Victor Scarpone (Miami Marlins) Talk Life as First-Year MLB Assistant Athletic Trainers
#94
05/15/2025

Welcome to the Inside Athletic Training Podcast, where we explore the world of sports medicine & athletic training and the professionals who keep athletes at their best.

Today, we’re joined by Nick Jensen from the Milwaukee Brewers and Victor Scarpone from the Miami Marlins. As first-year MLB assistant athletic trainers, they’ll share what it took to break through to the big leagues and how they’re adapting to life on the big stage—working with elite players, handling MLB road trips and schedules, the pressures of winning, balancing family l...


Curtis Pride: Former MLB Outfielder & MLB Ambassador for Inclusion Talks His New Book
#93
04/24/2025

Welcome to another episode of Inside Athletic Training—the podcast that brings you the voices, stories, and insights from inside the world of sports medicine and athletic training. 

Today’s episode is a truly special one. We’re honored to be joined by Curtis Pride—former Major League Baseball outfielder, trailblazer, and an incredible ambassador not only for the game of baseball, but for people with disabilities around the world.

Born deaf, Curtis defied the odds and carved out an inspiring career in the big leagues, playing over 420 games across multiple teams. He we...


Adam Sparks: Miami Marlins Double-A Athletic Trainer
#92
04/11/2025

This week on the Inside Athletic Training podcast, we sat down with Adam Sparks, Double-A athletic trainer for the Miami Marlins organization to chat about his new blog series on PBATS.com following his journey through the Minor League Baseball season.

Each Tuesday, Adam will publish a recap of his previous week to provide insights and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of an athletic trainer for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins' Double-A affiliate). 

Click the link to check out the first chapter of the new series: Tales of the Tape: My Journey as a...


Philadelphia Phillies' Paul Buchheit & Joe Rauch Talk Research in Professional Baseball
#91
04/03/2025

This week, we're joined by Paul Buchheit and Joe Rauch of the Philadelphia Phillies to discuss research in professional baseball, the importance of athletic trainers being involved in the research process, what they've learned from a few specific studies that they've been a part of, details about the future of research in Major League Baseball sports medicine, and much more. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Ben Fraser: San Diego Padres Assistant Athletic Trainer
03/27/2025

On this week's episode of Inside Athletic Training, we sat down with tPadres' assistant athletic trainer Ben Fraser to talk about his career in baseball, Opening Day in Major League Baseball, the grind of Spring Training, building a successful sports medicine staff, career moves throughout baseball, advice for younger athletic trainers, and much more. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Chris Whitman (St. Louis Cardinals Medical Coordinator) Talks PBATS One-Day Charity
#90
03/20/2025

Chris Whitman, Minor League Medical Coordinator for the St. Louis Cardinals, joins the Inside Athletic Training podcast to talk about the PBATS One-Day Charity, which is currently raising money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

About the One-Day Charity

The PBATS One-Day Charity is an annual charitable fundraiser established by the Minor League Coordinators under the umbrella of PBATS during the 2012 Winter Meetings. The charity was created with the mission of being able to give back to organizations with a greater cause and making an impact outside the game of baseball. 


Anthony Parise: University of Minnesota Baseball Assistant Athletic Trainer
#89
03/13/2025

This week on the Inside Athletic Training podcast, we welcome in Anthony Parise from the University of Minnesota baseball program. Anthony leads athletic training for the Minnesota baseball team and shares his insight into working as a collegiate athletic trainer at a Power Five conference in the Big Ten. Anthony talks in great detail about his career path, traveling across the country for new jobs in athletic training, learning about which sports he enjoys covering most, his day-to-day at the University of Minnesota, the structure of the University's athletic training and performance staff, tips for long travels weeks as...


Jeff Wood: University of Tennessee Baseball Associate Director of Sports Medicine
#88
03/06/2025

This week on the Inside Athletic Training podcast we welcome in Jeff Wood, legendary athletic trainer from the University of Tennessee baseball program. Jeff talks about being a huge part of the 2024 College World Series championship team, his long career at the University of Tennessee, early days with the Baltimore Orioles, his thoughts on the new-age of athletic training and sports medicine, and much more. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Jarrett Schweim: University of Florida Baseball Senior Athletic Trainer
#87
02/27/2025

On this week's episode of Inside Athletic Training, we welcome in Jarrett Schweim, the Senior Athletic Trainer for the University of Florida baseball program. Jarrett shares details about his career path, stories from his decades of experience across multiple universities in the college setting, advice for younger athletic trainers, his excitement for the upcoming college baseball season, his viewpoints on new technology and data in the field of sports medicine, and much more.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Chris Matarazzo: Vanderbilt University Baseball Senior Associate Athletic Trainer
#86
02/20/2025

This week on Inside Athletic Training, Chris Matarazzo from Vanderbilt University joins the show to talk about his life as the athletic trainer for Vanderbilt's powerhouse baseball program. Chris talks through his accomplished career, what it's like working for a top-tier NCAA Division I baseball program, the grind of college baseball travel, his best advice for younger athletic trainers, and much more. 

For more information about Chris and Vanderbilt baseball, click here. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Chris McDonald: Detroit Tigers Assistant Athletic Trainer
#85
02/13/2025

This week on the Inside Athletic Training podcast, Chris McDonald of the Detroit Tigers joins the show to talk about the upcoming MLB season, preparing for another Spring Training with the Tigers' sports medicine staff, advice for young athletic trainers breaking into the game in 2025, how he got his start in pro baseball, working for his hometown team, and much more.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Roger Caplinger: Milwaukee Brewers Medical Consultant & Former VP of Medical Operations, Health and Safety
#84
02/06/2025

This week on Inside Athletic Training, longtime Milwaukee Brewers' medical staff leader Roger Caplinger joins the show. Roger has spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers leading to his recent retirement from his position as the club's Vice President of Medical Operations, Health and Safety. Roger shares insight into his successful career in Milwaukee, discusses his path to the big leagues, recaps the 2025 PBATS Baseball Team Medicine Conference, and much more.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


John Ursone: Stanford University Associate Director of Baseball Athletic Training
#83
01/30/2025

This week on Inside Athletic Training, we sit down with John Ursone, Stanford University's Associate Director of Baseball Athletic Training. John shares details about athletic training at the college level, working with a big-time college baseball program, his day-to-day routine as an athletic trainer at a prestigious university, how new conference realignment has impacted the job of a college athletic trainer, and much more. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Jamie Reed: Texas Rangers Sr. Director of Medical Operations
#82
01/23/2025

On this week's episode of Inside Athletic Training, we welcome in Jamie Reed, Senior Director of Medical Operations and World Series Champion for the Texas Rangers, to discuss the recently released MLB report on pitcher injuries. Jamie provides insight from the athletic trainer's perspective about the key findings in the report, his feelings about youth arm health, chasing velocity, and much more. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Corey Tremble: Miami Marlins Director of Athletic Training & Rehabilitation
#81
01/16/2025

On this week's episode, we welcome Corey Tremble back to the show to talk about his new role with the Miami Marlins as Director of Athletic Training and Rehab. We talk to Corey about his year with the Texas Rangers, his efforts to build his new staff in Miami, his philosophies on leadership and professional growth, taking on a huge role with a new club, and much more.

To learn more about Corey's professional experiences and profile in the game of baseball, click here. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Dave Yeager: Milwaukee Brewers Special Assistant - High Performance
#80
12/30/2024

On this week's episode of Inside Athletic Training, we welcome in Dave Yeager, Chairman of the PBATS internship program and veteran of the Milwaukee Brewers athletic training staff, to talk through the details of the PBATS internship program and what students might expect during MLB and MiLB athletic training internships. A special reminder for students — the internship application process closes on December 31st. Students can apply at PBATS.com/internship. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Justin Kemp: Kansas City Royals Minor League Medical Coordinator
#79
12/19/2024

On this week's episode of Inside Athletic Training, we welcome in Justin Kemp of the Kansas City Royals. Justin, the Royals' Minor League Medical Coordinator, shares his insight and expertise on the application and interview process within professional baseball athletic training, including tips and tricks for the interview process, how to prepare, and best practices for landing an athletic training job in pro baseball.

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Jason Meredith: Milwaukee Brewers Head Strength and Conditioning Specialist
#78
12/05/2024

On this episode of Inside Athletic Training, Milwaukee Brewers head strength and conditioning specialist Jason Meredith joins the show to talk about the relationship between strength and conditioning staffs and athletic trainers, how the two groups work together throughout a 162 game season, his road to the big leagues, and much more. 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.


Ken Crenshaw (Arizona Diamondbacks) on Building the Ultimate Sports Medicine & Performance Team
#77
11/21/2024

On this episode of Inside Athletic Training, legendary athletic trainer Ken Crenshaw — Arizona Diamondbacks Director of Sports Medicine and Performance — joins the show to share his recent presentation from the PBATS Athletic Training Student Symposium, titled "Building the Ultimate Sports Medicine & Performance Team." 

For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.