Ron Porterfield
Encyclopedia
Ron Porterfield is an American
Major League Baseball
athletic trainer
. He has been the head athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Rays
since 2006.
. He is a 1983 graduate of St. Michael's High School
(Santa Fe) and a 1988 graduate of New Mexico State University
.
of the Class A New York–Penn League. Porterfield continued working in the Houston Astros
minor league
system through the 1996 season. He was named Texas League
"Athletic Trainer of the Year" in 1992.
In Tampa, Porterfield has been lauded by All-Star
pitchers David Price
and James Shields for his training methods. Former Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli
, who was unable to play for most of 2007 and 2008 due to a mysterious ailment that was originally thought to be life-threatening and was later diagnosed as channelopathy
, said his playing career, which he described as having hit "rock bottom," might never have resumed if not for Porterfield's time and dedication in pursuing a proper diagnosis and treatment. By the time Baldelli left the Rays as a free agent during the 2008–09 offseason, Porterfield had amassed a 3,000-page medical file on Baldelli, which Porterfield forwarded to Baldelli's new team, the Boston Red Sox
.
Porterfield shared "Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year" honors in both 2005 and 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
athletic trainer
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
. He has been the head athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
since 2006.
Early life
Porterfield is a native of Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
. He is a 1983 graduate of St. Michael's High School
St. Michael's High School
St. Michael's High School is a private Catholic junior/senior high school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the state capital of New Mexico. It is privately run under the auspices of the international Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, better known as the De La Salle Christian...
(Santa Fe) and a 1988 graduate of New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
.
Houston Astros (1988–1996)
Porterfield began his professional baseball career as the trainer for the 1988 Auburn AstrosAuburn Astros
The Auburn Astros were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1982 to 1995. The team played in the New York–Penn League and was affiliated with the Houston Astros. The team was located in Auburn, New York; played home games at Falcon Park; and was owned and operated by Auburn Community...
of the Class A New York–Penn League. Porterfield continued working in the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system through the 1996 season. He was named Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
"Athletic Trainer of the Year" in 1992.
Tampa Bay Rays (1997–present)
In 1997, Porterfield was hired by the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays, now known as the Tampa Bay Rays, to be the team's Minor League Medical and Rehabilitation Coordinator, a position he held until 2002. Porterfield joined the Rays' Major League team as assistant athletic trainer in 2003, and was named head athletic trainer in 2006. As of 2011, Porterfield is one of the few remaining members of the Rays staff who have been with the organization since its inception.In Tampa, Porterfield has been lauded by All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
pitchers David Price
David Price (baseball)
David Taylor Price is an American Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. Price was selected first overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Rays and made his major league debut in September 2008.Price pitched out of the bullpen during the Rays' run...
and James Shields for his training methods. Former Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli
Rocco Baldelli
Rocco Dan Baldelli is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. Because of his excellent size and speed, and in reference to his hometown, he was nicknamed, "The Woonsocket Rocket," early in his professional career...
, who was unable to play for most of 2007 and 2008 due to a mysterious ailment that was originally thought to be life-threatening and was later diagnosed as channelopathy
Channelopathy
Channelopathies are diseases caused by disturbed function of ion channel subunits or the proteins that regulate them. These diseases may be either congenital or acquired .There are a large number of distinct dysfunctions known to be caused by ion channel...
, said his playing career, which he described as having hit "rock bottom," might never have resumed if not for Porterfield's time and dedication in pursuing a proper diagnosis and treatment. By the time Baldelli left the Rays as a free agent during the 2008–09 offseason, Porterfield had amassed a 3,000-page medical file on Baldelli, which Porterfield forwarded to Baldelli's new team, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
Porterfield shared "Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year" honors in both 2005 and 2009.