Shorebirds Athletic Trainer Maggie Hunt Selected as Carolina League Athletic Trainer of the Year!

President Nick Kenney of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) today announced the winners of the Minor League Athletic Trainers of the Year Awards for the 2026 baseball season.

The PBATS Minor League Baseball awards are given annually to one member of each of the 14 leagues in Minor League Baseball. Two additional awards are given to the Minor League Coordinator and Latin American Coordinator of the Year. In additon, both the Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year and the Minor League Staff of the Year honors will be presented at this year’s MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego, CA.

“Each year, this award process reminds me of just how deep the talent runs across Minor League Baseball. The athletic trainers we are honoring today work in some of the most demanding and rewarding environments in professional sports, and they do it with a level of professionalism, expertise, and genuine passion for their athletes that defines this society. It is one of the highlights of my year to be able to recognize them,” said Nick Kenney, PBATS President.

The award selection process is led by Frank Neville (Milwaukee Brewers) and the PBATS Minor League Awards Committee, a group of society members who are dedicated to honoring the best-of-the-best in Minor League Baseball athletic training. Winners are selected by their peers in each league based on many factors, some of which include their contributions to player health, their professionalism within their organization, and their commitment to outstanding player care, and more.

“The Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year awards mean a great deal to this organization because they shine a light on a group of professionals who do extraordinary work largely behind the scenes. The 2026 winners represent every corner of professional baseball, from the Dominican Summer League to the International League, and each one of them has made a meaningful impact on the players and organizations they serve. PBATS is proud to call them members,” added Kenney.

The following athletic trainers have been selected as the 2026 Minor League Athletic Trainers of the Year.

• Justin Ahrens (Philadelphia Phillies): Minor League Medical Coordinator
• Ken Hoefs (Milwaukee Brewers): Latin American Coordinator
• James Stone (Kansas City Royals): International League
• Jake Routhier (Athletics): Pacific Coast League
• Katie Reyes (Toronto Blue Jays): Eastern League
• Dylan Culwell (Los Angeles Angels): Southern League
• Jennifer Bardales (Houston Astros): Texas League
• Jordan Hyink (St. Louis Cardinals): Florida State League
• Bryanna Brown (Seattle Mariners): California League
• Maggie Hunt (Baltimore Orioles): Carolina League
• Maggie Lowenhar (Chicago Cubs): Midwest League
• Austin Smith (Chicago White Sox): South Atlantic League
• Cat Widay (Arizona Diamondbacks): Northwest League
• Vanessa Navarro (Milwaukee Brewers): Arizona Complex League
• Matt Barnes (Atlanta Braves): Florida Complex League
• Emiliano Romero-Garma (Arizona Diamondbacks): Dominican Summer League

For more information on the 2026 award winners and additional PBATS awards, please contact Sam Radbil at [email protected].

ABOUT PBATS: The mission of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) is to serve as an educational resource for the Major League and Minor League Baseball athletic trainers. For more information, please visit www.pbats.com