JATO is pleased to announce cohosting the first Baseball Sports Medicine Conference in 2020, in partnership with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS). We would like this event to help further advance sports medicine related support in baseball field as well as our profession in the world. We thank you in advance for your generous support to this event and look forward to welcoming you in January of 2020.

Hiroyuki Sugaya, MD

Hiroyuki Sugaya, MD, is a world-renowned shoulder & elbow surgeon and researcher. Currently serving as chairman, Sports Medicine & Joint Center in Funabashi Orthopaedic Hospital, in　Japan. He also serves as a clinical professor, Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University, visiting Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University in Tokyo, and Department of Anatomy, University of Hawaii in Honolulu, USA. As academic society activities, he serves a chair of International Committee both in Japan Shoulder Society and Japanese Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Also, he is a corresponding member of the American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons. His clinical interests relate to treatment for shoulder and elbow disorders in various ages of patients including Olympic level athletes and professionals. He has been an invited guest lecturer at numerous overseas shoulder courses and meetings and published around 70 English and 300 Japanese articles in these fields. In addition, he has been dedicated education for young surgeons worldwide accepting many visitors and fellows from all over the world.

「Management for Shoulder & Elbow Injuries in Elite Baseball Players: A Japanese Perspective」

Recently, more Japanese professional baseball players play in MLB than ever before. Unfortunately, however, soon after beginning their career in the world’s highest competitive league they suffer from elbow injuries serious enough to require them to undergo surgeries in most case. Why do Japanese elite baseball players fall into getting severe injuries upon making the transition to MLB?

The reasons could be the amount of resting time in pitching between game for starters, besides that, environmental factors can be come upon our thoughts, which are the difference in the ball used in the MLB and NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) league, the difference in the inclination and stiffness of the mound between the leagues, and so forth. Doctor Sugaya, however, came to realize some obvious “difference” other than the factors above assumed to be true so far as an answer for the question of early breaking down in Japanese baseball players after making their ways to the MLB. In the lecture, Doctor Sugaya will tell us the “difference” as well as “where to head to” for both leagues in the future. 

Ron Porterfield  ATC

President of PBATS

Los Angeles Dodgers Player Health Director

Ron Porterfield, 54, is entering his second year as Director of Player Health with the Los Angeles Dodgers after serving the previous twelve years as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Tampa Bay Rays, and three years as the Assistant Athletic Trainer before that. Prior to his move to the Major Leagues, Porterfield spent 15 years in the Minor Leagues. From 1988 to 1996, he worked his way through the ranks of the Houston Astros organization. During this time, Porterfield served as an athletic trainer for teams in Auburn, N.Y.; Kissimmee, Fl.; Columbus, Ga.; Jackson, Miss.; and Tucson, Ariz. In 1997, Porterfield was hired by the Tampa Bay Rays to serve as their Minor League medical and rehabilitation coordinator until he was promoted to the Major League club. A Santa Fe, N.M., native, Porterfield is a certified member of the NATA. In 2013 was honored to work the Major League All Star Game in New York. In 2009, Porterfield shared honors with Paul Harker and Nick Paparesta as “Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year. In 2005, Porterfield shared honors with Ken Crenshaw as “Major League Athletic Training Staff of the Year,” in 1992, Porterfield was named the Texas League Athletic Trainer of the Year, and in 1991 and 1992 he served as an athletic trainer for Magallanes in Valencia, Venezuela. Porterfield and his wife Barbara live in Peoria, AZ., with their children, Alec (22) and Abbey (19).

RICK GRIFFIN  ATC

Seattle Mariners, Athletic Trainer, Emeritus

Chairman of PBATS International Committee

Rick “Griff” Griffin, 63 began his career in sports medicine as a teacher/athletic trainer at Winston Churchill High School in Eugene, Ore. in 1977. A native of Brigham City, Utah, Griffin moved to professional baseball in 1978 when he became an athletic trainer for the Eugene Emeralds, a Cincinnati Reds Minor League affiliate. In 1981, Griffin became a full-time athletic trainer for the Seattle-based Sports Medicine Clinic, before accepting the position of head athletic trainer for the Seattle Mariners in 1983. In August of 2017 Griffin worked his 5,500th game for the Mariners. A member of the NATA whose involvement includes JATO/PBATS liaison and incoming Chairman of the NATA Hall of Fame Committee.

He is also a member of the ACSM, and the NWATS, Griffin served as PBATS American League Athletic Trainer Representative from 1989-95, and worked at the MLB All-Star games in 1987, 1995, 2001, and 2010. He toured Japan with the Major League All-Stars in 1996 and has lectured in Japan in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000-2002, 2014-2018. Griffin provides health care to the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals and is an avid hunter and fisherman. He lives in Bothell, Washington with his wife Rachel.

JAMIE REED  ATC

Texas Rangers Sr. Director of Medical Operations

Jamie Reed, 58, is entering his 16th season with the Texas Rangers organization. From 1997 to 2002, Reed was head athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He also was the assistant athletic trainer for the Baltimore Orioles from 1989 to 1996. While at the Orioles, Reed shared “Major League Baseball Athletic Training Staff of the Year” honors in 1995 with Richie Bancells. Prior to his Major League appointment in 1989, Reed spent seven seasons in the Orioles’ Minor League system with teams in Bluefield (Rookie League), Hagerstown (Class A), Charlotte (Class AA) and Rochester (Class AAA). Reed is a former American League assistant athletic trainer representative on the PBATS Executive Committee. He spoke at MLB’s 1999 Rookie Development Program. 

In December 2003 Reed traveled to Japan to address the Japanese Professional Baseball Athletics Trainers Society (JPBATS). He also served as one of the athletic trainers for the 2006 Japan All-Star trip. He has been selected as American League All-Star athletic trainer for both the 2000 and 2008 teams. In December 2001, he was selected by his peers as the new president of PBATS, and was re-elected to the position in 2003 and again in 2005. He also served on the Board as Immediate Past President until 2013. A native of Annapolis, MD., Reed served as athletic trainer for the U.S. Naval Academy’s football and basketball teams from 1982 to 1984, and again in 1988.Reed co-chairs the Red Romo Scholarship that provides the expenses to pay for an extra athletic trainer for the Naval Academy Sports Program. Reed lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, with his wife Jean. They have three children and seven grandchildren that all live in Texas. 

MATT TOTH   ATC

Assistant Athletic Trainer - Rehab

Matt Toth begins his eighth year with the Major League Medical Staff after spending 10 years in the minor leagues. A Cleveland, Ohio native, Toth began his baseball career as a certified athletic trainer with the Mesa Cubs, the rookie ball affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 2001. Toth also spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers and also worked at Oregon State University as the Baseball/Football Athletic trainer before joining the Seattle Mariners in 2006. 

Since joining the Mariners, Matt has spent six seasons between Inland Empire (2006), High Desert (2007), Wisconsin (2008), and Jackson (2009-2011). Toth was named the 2011 Southern League Athletic Trainer of the Year. Matt is a certified member of the NATA, as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a corrective exercise specialist through NASM. Currently, Matt resides in Issaquah, WA with his wife Annie, son Alex, and daughter Ellie.

Tory Lindley MA ATC

NATA President

Northwestern University, Director of AT Services and Senior Associate AD

Tory Lindley, ATC is in his eighteenth year as Northwestern University’s Director of Athletic Training Services and Senior Associate AD.  At Northwestern, Tory supervises the High Performance Team including Athletic Training, Sports Performance and Performance Nutrition.  Tory has degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota. Tory served in state leadership roles for the Minnesota ATA and the Michigan AT Society before providing six years of service to the Illinois Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Directors, including President from 2006-2008. From 2012 to 2018 Tory was the NATA District Four Director and member of the NATA Board of Directors, serving as NATA Vice President for two years.

In June of 2018 Tory began his three-year term as the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s 14th President.  A 2011 inductee into the Illinois Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, Tory was a 2016 recipient of the GLATA Golden Pinnacle Award and the 2012 NCAA’s Division I Athletic Trainer of the Year.  Tory enjoys life balance with Beth, a career social worker and their three children Jonah (24), Evan (21) and Genevieve (19).

Shunsuke Motoyashikiki,  ATC

Hanshin Tigers

Graduated from California State University, Long Beach and joined ORIX Buffaloes, Japanese Professional Baseball Team, in 2001. Responsible for rehabilitation mainly as a rehabilitation officer, and mainly for strength as a conditioning coach from 2004. Joined Hanshin Tigers in 2016 and is in charge of strength as a athletic trainer.

Atsusi Toriida,  ATC

Hukuoka Softbank Hawks

1998 The University of Kitakyushu

2002 Plymouth State University (NH)

2002 South County Physical Therapy (MA)

2003 Rockford RiverHawks (Frontier League)

2003-2012 MLB Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals

2013 NPB Fukuoka Softbank Hawks

Atsushi Toriida, 44, joined Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in 2013, currently serving as a conditioning trainer for their minor league team. He has experience with being in charge of players’ conditioning as well as rehabilitation for both top and minor teams with the Softbank Hawks.  Before coming back to Japan, he had worked 8 years as an athletic trainer with MLB Washington Nationals organization. He worked with their A to AAA teams in his 8 years with the Nationals. His first career with MLB organization started in 2003 with Montreal Expos. He served as an athletic trainer for their short-season A team. Before he joined in MLB organization, he worked with Rockford RiverHawks in the Frontier League. He started his career as an athletic trainer at South County Physical Therapy in MA after he got his master’s degree at Plymouth State University in 2002.

    Issei Kamada,  ATC

         Orix Buffalos

2006 Northern Colorado University

2008 Oregon State University

2008-2010 Cleveland Indians

2011-2012 NPB Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

2013-2017 NPB Hanshin Tigers

2018- NPB Orix Buffalos

Issei Kamada, 37, joined NPB Orix Buffalos in 2013 as a part of strength training staff. Prior to that he spent 5 seasons with Hanshin Tigers from 2013 to 2017 and 2 seasons with Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2011 and 2012. He was also responsible for strength training for Tigers and Fighters. Before coming back to Japan, he worked 3 years with MLB Cleveland Indians organization as an athletic trainer for their minor league team from 2008 to 2010. He got his Master’s degree at Oregon State University in 2008 after graduating from Northern Colorado University in 2006.