Inside Athletic Training

In this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we’re joined by Kevin Pillifant, Minor League Medical Coordinator for the Chicago White Sox. In his role, Pillifant helps oversee the coordination of medical care across the organization’s minor league system, working with athletic trainers, performance staff, and medical providers throughout player development.  

We also explore Pillifant’s unique career path through sports medicine, inc...

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 ow...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. Fleisi...

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 informa...

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 ...

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 p...

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 m...

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 tr...

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...

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 c...

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 camarad...

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 differ...

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 Unive...

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...

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 th...

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 ...