Toronto Blue Jays: Head trainer Nikki Huffman leaves team
Toronto Blue Jays announced today that head trainer Nikki Huffman has resigned from her position to focus on other opportunities.
The Toronto Blue Jays have a key medical position open on their team, as highly-regarded head trainer Nikki Huffman has left the team.
In 2017, she earned a promotion to head athletic trainer when former trainer George Poulis left to join the Atlanta Braves staff. Huffman is the second female ever to serve as a head athletic trainer in the MLB, NBA, NHL, and the MLS.
She joined the club in 2015 where she served as a physical therapist and rehab coordinator.
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Assistant athletic trainers Voon Chong and Jose Ministral will remain with the team for the upcoming 2020 MLB season, and it’s possible one of them could take over as the head athletic trainer.
Toronto is reportedly looking externally and internally for Huffman’s replacement.
It’s safe to say her absence for next season and beyond will be noticeable and felt around the clubhouse. She was widely regarded around the team, and obviously built up pretty strong relationships with the players, in particular, former Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman.
Following the news, Marcus Stroman tweeted out his thoughts on Huffman’s departure from his former team.
Crazy excited for the future. Got @NikkiG_13 back in my circle. Super thankful to have her with me every step of the way. She’s the best PT/Trainer/Strength Coach in the world and will change the lives of many athletes going forward. Time to climb. Loyalty over everything!
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) October 25, 2019
Huffman also built a relationship with retired star Troy Tulowitski.
It’s not the end...it’s the beginning of something new. You are truly one of a kind...you made me love this game in ways that only you could because you shared how special it was to you. Celebrating you 2 and an unbelievable career 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/XhUHBpHktM
— Nikki Huffman (@NikkiG_13) July 26, 2019
It was reported that Huffman resigned from her job because she wanted to build her own business and focus on potential future career opportunities.
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Best of luck to you, Nikki!