Page 52 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

FRONT OFFICE medical & performance staff

George C. Poulis Director of Player Health/Head Athletic Trainer
MANAGER & STAFF • George C. Poulis begins his fourth season with the • Poulis’ sports career
Braves as director of player health/head athletic
began in 1986, serving as
trainer...He was named to the position on December
an athletic training intern
for the NFL’s Cleveland
5, 2017.
Browns.
• Prior to joining the Braves, Poulis spent 18 years with
the Toronto Blue Jays, 2000-17, including the last 15 • A Cleveland native,
as the club’s head athletic trainer...He served as the Poulis earned his undergraduate degree from Baldwin-
Blue Jays’ assistant athletic trainer for three seasons Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, and earned his
before his promotion to the head role.
PLAYER BIOS • Before his time with Toronto, he was an athletic trainer • During the off-season, Poulis, 56, and his wife, Jenny,
master’s degree from the University of Alabama.
in the San Diego Padres’ minor-league system for 10
live in Florida with their three daughters, Lainey, Evy
and Nicki.
years.
SEASON IN REVIEW

jeff porter Senior Advisor, Athletic Training
• The 2021 season marks Jeff Porter’s 37th in the Braves • In 2012, Porter and
organization, including his fourth as senior advisor,
Jim Lovell, the Braves’
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT • Prior to his current role, Porter was the Braves’ head travel, were honored by
current director of team
athletic training.
the Professional Baseball
athletic trainer for 15 seasons, 2003-17.
Athletic Trainers Society
• Porter joined the Braves in 1985 as the assistant athletic
trainer and assumed the Head Trainer duties in 2003,
Staff of the Year.
when Dave Pursley retired. (PBATS) as the Major League Baseball Athletic Training
• Porter is a member of PBATS and the National Athletic
• A native of Wilmington, N.C., Porter graduated from Trainers Association...Since 2017, he has been on the
Burgaw High School...He received a bachelor’s degree
BRAVES HISTORY from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington • An avid hunter and fisherman, Porter, 65, resides in
Georgia Board of Athletic Trainers.
in 1977 and earned his master’s degree from the
Lake Oconee, Ga...His son, David, first graduated from
University of Denver in 1979.
Auburn University and then from veterinary school
• Following college, Porter worked his way through the
minor leagues...From 1979 to 1984, he had stints with at the University of Georgia...David is currently a
veterinarian in the Atlanta area.
the Denver Bears, Jamestown Expos, Memphis Chicks
and Indianapolis Indians.
• Porter was honored as the National League athletic
OPPONENTS trainer for the 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star
Game in Philadelphia and for the 2008 All-Star Game
at New York’s Yankee Stadium...In 2006, he was the
athletic trainer for MLB’s Japan All-Star Tour.
MISCELLANEOUS 52 2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE