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 thoughtful discussion on how research can better serve the health and longevity of players throughout the game.

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

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, physicians, front offices, and analysts has changed over time.

This episode offers a candid look at the intersection of medicine, performance, and economics, breaking down what the injury numbers really mean for clubs, players, and the future of the game.

Check out Under the Knife on Substack here.

Learn more about Will here.

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

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 to earn his first MLB role, the day-to-day realities of life on a big league staff, and how collaboration with veteran leaders and fellow young clinicians has strengthened the Pirates’ sports medicine team.

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

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 explores key recent studies on UCL injury risk factors, throwing programs, and training trends, as well as Dr. Fleisig’s role advising Major League Baseball, USA Baseball, and the broader baseball community.

For more on Dr. Fleisig, please visit:

Instagram: The Biomechanical Man

American Baseball Biomechanics Society: baseballbiomechanics.org

ASMI: asmi.org

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

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 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 this data within a broader injury-prevention and evaluation framework.

Read the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39898193/

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

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.

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.