Braves announce new head trainer, changes to staff

Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia is escorted off the field by trainer Jeff Porter after suffering an injury in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds Thursday, June 16, 2016, at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Credit: Kevin C. Cox

Credit: Kevin C. Cox

Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia is escorted off the field by trainer Jeff Porter after suffering an injury in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds Thursday, June 16, 2016, at Turner Field in Atlanta.

The Braves announced several training-staff moves Tuesday, including that long-time head athletic trainer Jeff Porter will make the transition into a senior-advisor role in 2018.

George C. Poulis was named director of player health and head athletic trainer in Porter’s place. Poulis comes from Toronto, where he served as assistant athletic trainer for three years, with his first year coming under Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos when he was in the same capacity with the Blue Jays.

Porter will step away from day-to-day operations after 33 seasons, the last 15 of which he was head athletic trainer. However, he will remain active with the training staff. The team said he will attend spring training and most home games.

Before joining the Blue Jays, Poulis worked as an athletic trainer in the Padres system for a decade. The Cleveland native earned a master’s degree from the University of Alabama and broke into professional sports with the Browns in 1986.

Andrew Hauser was named director of performance and assistant athletic trainer. He’s been with the organization for the past two seasons.

Jim Lovell will continue as an assistant athletic trainer, his 34th year in the organization.