Utne Named FSL Athletic Trainer of the Year

August 21, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release

Daytona Beach, FL - The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) has announced that Kyle Utne of the Daytona Tortugas was selected by his peers as the 2015 Florida State League Athletic Trainer of the Year. Utne now becomes one of eighteen (18) league winners to be considered for Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year, which will be announced and awarded at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, TN.

Utne is finishing his fifth season with the Cincinnati Reds organization. He was the head athletic trainer for Class-A Bakersfield last season and holds the same position with the Tortugas. He was the head athletic trainer with the Rookie-Level Billings Mustangs in 2013 and with the Arizona League Reds in 2011 and 2012. In 2009, he worked as an intern with the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs Double-A). A graduate of Hoffman Estates (IL) High School, Utne received his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Illinois State University and his master's degree in sport management from East Tennessee State University.

"I feel very honored to be recognized," Utne said. "All of the athletic trainers in this league are well deserving; we all know how demaning a full minor league season can be. It's an honor that appreciates everything we do behind the scenes, even beyond the medical work."

Utne is responsible for scheduling itineraries, booking team hotels on road trips, and arranging travel accomodations for incoming and outgoing players. Even before winning the award, the 27-year-old had recieved league-wide acclaim for his bureaucratic efforts. Utne developed a Florida State League directory to help better connect all 12 mangers, atheltic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches in the FSL.

Naturally, his chief responsibility is the health and rehabilitiation of 25-30 players throughout a 140 game season, and the Tortugas don't take his contributions for granted.

"Since the day I got drafted [Kyle] has been my trainer," said RHP Nick Travieso, who was recently reactivated after two months on the disabled list. "He knows the right way to do things, and at the end of the day I always listen to him. He's played a huge role in getting me back healthy and I can't thank him enough."

Daytona Tortugas Athletic Trainer Kyle Utne

Florida State League Stories from August 21, 2015

• Tampa Bats Wake up Late in 8-4 Loss - Tampa Yankees
• Junior Arias Homers Twice in 8-4 Win Friday - Daytona Tortugas
• Hammerheads Blank Stone Crabs 3-0 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
• Clearwater Comes up Short in 6-5 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
• D-Jays Shut out by Lakeland, 4-0 - Dunedin Blue Jays
• Marauders Crush Fort Myers 9-3 - Bradenton Marauders
• Cardinals Come Back to Edge Mets 3-2 - St. Lucie Mets
• Marauders Sink Miracle, 9-3, to Even Series - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
• Utne Named FSL Athletic Trainer of the Year - Daytona Tortugas
• Threshers Win Big over Manatees, 11-1 - Clearwater Threshers
• Hammerheads Take Opener 3-1 - Charlotte Stone Crabs

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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