Article reposted from kolo8 News Now
Author: Reno Aces
The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) has selected Reno Aces’ Masa Abe as the Pacific Coast League Trainer of the Year. Abe is Reno’s first trainer to take home the award in the franchise’s nine-year history.
The award is given annually to one member of each of the 16 Leagues in Minor League Baseball, as well as the Dominican Summer League, in a selection by their peers. As the PCL winner, Abe is now eligible for the Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year award, which is voted upon by full membership of the PBATS and announced at the 2017 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida.
Abe is in his second season with Reno and seventh season with the Diamondbacks medical staff. He began his professional career in 2011 with Rookie-level AZL D-backs and moved up to Rookie-advanced Missoula in 2012. In his one season in Missoula, he was named the Pioneer League Athletic Trainer of the Year. Abe’s ascension up the D-backs minor league ladder continued when he jumped to Advanced-A Visalia in 2013 and Double-A Mobile for the 2014-2015 campaigns.
Prior to joining the D-backs, Abe was a graduate assistant trainer at the University of Arkansas. A native of Aiehi, Japan, Abe graduated from the Toyota National of College of Tech High School in Toyota, Japan, and went on to earn his degree in mechanical engineering in 2001. Abe came to the United States and attended Northern Colorado where he earned his undergraduate degree in athletic training in 2007. Abe worked as a Minor League assistant athletic trainer/strength and conditioning coach for one season with the Class A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians.
The Aces return home to Greater Nevada Field for four final regular season home games labor weekend, September 1-4, against the Albuquerque Isotopes. Playoff tickets are also available for reservation by visiting the ticket office or renoaces.com. Potential home playoff games are Wednesday, September 6th and Thursday, September 7th at Greater Nevada Field, both scheduled for 7:05 p.m. For 2018 ticket packages or more information, call (775) 334-4700. Follow the club all season long on Twitter (@Aces) or like the team on Facebook.