The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball hires Tom Mendez as athletic trainer
10.01.2019 | Baseball
Longhorns hire athletic trainer with Division I and professional baseball background.
AUSTIN, Texas – Tom Mendez has been named assistant athletic trainer for Texas Baseball, head coach David Pierce announced Monday. Mendez comes to the Longhorns after two years at UTRGV as the athletic trainer for baseball and volleyball.
"We had some great candidates for the athletic trainer position," Pierce said. "Tom's commitment, passion and energy for excellence was very obvious in the interview process. We are excited for him to join our staff."
While at UTRGV, Mendez worked with the Vaquero's baseball program that had its winningest season since 1991, with a 34-21 record and won a share of the 2019 WAC Championship. He also served as the athletic trainer for the volleyball program that claimed the 2018 WAC regular season championship and the prior year advanced to the WAC Tournament final.
During the 2016 Major League Baseball season, Mendez served as an athletic trainer in the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs organization, working with players in Mesa, Ariz. and the Dominican Republic.
Prior to his stint with the Cubs organization, and while working toward his Master of Science in Athletic Training, Mendez served as a student trainer for the Florida International University baseball team. Mendez received recognition as Student Athletic Trainer of the Month for his work on injury prevention programs with FIU's baseball team.
From 2009 to 2016 Mendez worked as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Fla., caring for the high school's football and baseball teams.
A 2013 graduate of the University of Florida, Mendez received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology specializing in baseball strength program development. Mendez applied that knowledge working with Athletes United Sports Performance and Athletic Republic as a sports performance coach. He also worked at Miami Sports Medicine as a physical therapy technician and rehab assistant specializing in return-to-play programs for collegiate and high school baseball players. Mendez also gained baseball rehabilitation experience at Pinecrest Physical Therapy in Miami.
He received a Master of Science in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine from FIU in 2016. While at FIU, his area of focus was on integrating technologies in the prevention and rehabilitation of pitching injuries. He also volunteered with strength & conditioning, gaining additional experience in football and baseball strength programs.
Mendez's research interests include implementation of blood flow restriction in Tommy John rehabilitation and UCL injury prevention strength programs, as well as utilizing Motus, Trackman and Rhapsodo to examine biomechanical factors which may predict and prevent injuries in pitchers.
Mendez is a NATA/BOC Certified Athletic Trainer with licensure in Texas and Florida as well as a NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He also holds certifications in Graston Technique and Owens Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation. Mendez is also certified in dry needling by Structure & Function Education. The American Heart Association has certified Mendez as a professional rescuer.