The Chicago White Sox announced changes to the club's Major League athletic training staff, restructuring the department with the addition of Mike Reinold in the new role of senior medical advisor and the promotions of Brian Ball (Major League head athletic trainer), Brett Walker (Major League physical therapist/assistant athletic trainer) and James Kruk (Major League assistant athletic trainer).u5:p
"With Herm Schneider's move to an emeritus status and several standout trainers already in place on our staff, we decided to take this opportunity to re-imagine the high performance aspect of our medical, training, therapy and rehabilitation programs," said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. "Mike is going to be one of the architects of those programs going forward, while Brian, James and Brett have done terrific jobs in their current roles. Each deserves to assume even more responsibility as we ensure that we continue to provide the high-level of care players are accustomed to with the White Sox."u5:p
Reinold is a physical therapist, athletic trainer, strength coach, and owner of Champion Physical Therapy and Performance in Boston. He is the former Head Athletic Trainer of the Boston Red Sox, where he was a member of the Major League medical staff for seven seasons from 2006-2012, serving in a variety of capacities.
Reinold formerly was the facility director at Champion Sports Medicine and coordinator of rehabilitative research and clinical education at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala., under the direction of noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. He is considered one of the leading researchers and educators in sports physical therapy and has consulted with numerous teams and athletes over the years.u5:p
Ball is beginning his 19th season with the White Sox after joining the organization as assistant athletic trainer prior to the 2001 season. Teaming with Schneider and Director of Conditioning Allen Thomas, Ball and the White Sox have featured the healthiest team in baseball over the past 17 seasons in terms of fewest players on the disabled list and total days missed due to injury. Ball, who was named the American League's Assistant Trainer at the 2011 All-Star Game, currently serves as a member of the executive board for the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) and is a member of the Major League Baseball Medical Advisory Committee. He spent the 1997-2000 seasons in the Texas Rangers organization before joining the White Sox.u5:p
Walker has been the White Sox Major League physical therapist for the past four seasons after joining the organization as Minor League physical therapist in November 2013.u5:p
Kruk joined the White Sox organization in 2008 and has served as head trainer at Class AAA Charlotte (2018), Class AA Birmingham (2016-17), Class A Kannapolis (2014-15) and Advanced Rookie Great Falls (2009-13).u5:p