Storm Chasers' James Stone Named 2026 International League Athletic Trainer of the Year

PAPILLION, NEB. – The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) announced that James Stone, the Omaha Storm Chasers' Athletic Trainer, has been named the International League's Athletic Trainer of the Year for 2026. It is the third Athletic Trainer of the Year honor for Stone, his first at the Triple-A level.

Stone is entering his eighth year as the Certified Athletic Trainer for the Storm Chasers and his 17th year overall in the Royals organization. He previously spent seven seasons with the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals High-A), including 2015, when he was named Carolina League Athletic Trainer of the Year.

"Being voted on by my peers makes this honor really meaningful, and it's humbling to know they felt I was deserving," Stone said. "I'm grateful to the Royals organization for the opportunity and their trust in me to be part of getting our players to the Major Leagues."

When the 2026 season ends, Stone will have covered 1,005 games over his first seven seasons as the Storm Chasers' athletic trainer, the fourth-most of any athletic trainer in the Triple-A Omaha franchise’s history, trailing only Jeff Stevenson (1999-2007, 1,291 games), Dave Iannicca (2011-2018, 1,138 games) and Mark Farnsworth (1991-1997, 1,008 games). Stevenson, the 2005 PCL Athletic Trainer of the Year with Omaha, currently works as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Atlanta Braves. Iannicca, Stone’s predecessor in Omaha, serves as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Kansas City Royals.

“Nobody gets to see the work that takes place behind the scenes to keep our players on the field and James has been doing this at a high level for many years,” Storm Chasers manager Patrick Osborn said. “He's a key piece of why we're able to maintain health and he is more than worthy of the award that he's received.”

Stone joined Kansas City in 2010 as the Athletic Trainer for the Advanced Rookie Burlington Royals and spent 2011 with the Class-A Kane County Cougars, arriving with the Royals after one season with the Central Valley Coyotes (Fresno, Calif.) of Arena Football 2. Stone worked three seasons in the Florida Marlins organization, with stops in Jupiter (2008), Greensboro (2007) and Jamestown (2006), winning New York-Penn League Trainer of the Year honors in 2006. He also served as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Baltimore Orioles' Class-A affiliate, the Delmarva Shorebirds, in 2005. Stone graduated with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Cal State-Northridge.

The PBATS Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year awards are given annually to one member from each of Minor League Baseball's 14 leagues, along with the Minor League Coordinator and Latin American Coordinator of the Year. Stone's award will be presented, along with the Minor League Staff of the Year honor, at this year's MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego, California.

"The Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year awards mean a great deal to this organization because they shine a light on a group of professionals who do extraordinary work largely behind the scenes," said Nick Kenney, PBATS President & Royals Director of Medical Administration, in PBATS’ September 8 announcement. "The 2026 winners represent every corner of professional baseball, from the Dominican Summer League to the International League, and each one of them has made a meaningful impact on the players and organizations they serve. PBATS is proud to call them members."