Baseball prospectus, a leading publication focused on the operations and activities of Major League Baseball, has recognized the Pittsburgh Pirates with its annual Dick Martin Award for having the “best medical staff” in the game. 

The award is a first for the Pirates and its medical staff, which is directed by Patrick DeMeo, M.D., chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of the Division of Sports Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH).

“This is a tremendous honor for our entire medical team. Keeping some of the world’s top athletes healthy and productive is a significant challenge for our trainers and physicians, who are outstanding in their clinical skills, professionalism and dedication to the players and the Pirates’ organization.  It is a team that I am extremely proud to lead,” Dr. DeMeo said.

AGH and the West Penn Allegheny Health System have been the exclusive healthcare provider for the Pirates since 1999.

Commenting on the medical staff’s performance in recent years, Baseball Prospectus officials said:

“Head trainer Brad Henderson's staff not only had an excellent 2008 campaign, but their three year results and trends are the best in the game. In 2008, the Pirates faced the challenge of keeping a young team and hard-worked staff healthy enough to stay competitive. With only 385 days lost to the DL and only six percent of the payroll, the Pirates more than met the challenge. Most impressive might be the health of the pitching staff, highlighted by only 24 days lost by starters. Ian Snell, after missing 16 days in late June, came back and stayed healthy through the rest of the season.”

The Pirates’ medical staff was specifically cited by Baseball Prospectus for keeping Jason Bay healthy following his knee surgeries and for maintaining the health of catcher Ryan Doumit throughout the 2008 season:

“Bay’s health and production made him a valuable trade commodity, allowing GM Neal Huntington the flexibility to participate in a deal to replenish the Pirates minor league system. Keeping Ryan Doumit healthy at catcher was also no small task. In fact, almost all of the Pirates main contributors met or exceeded their projected playing time, a real testament to the work of Henderson and his staff in preparing the team’s players, maintaining their health, rehabbing them quickly and effectively, and returning them to the field.”

The report also notes that if past winners of the Dick Martin Award are any precedent, having an excellent medical staff and training program bodes well for future success on the field. Previous winners Tampa Bay and Milwaukee won the award at the start of an upswing in their franchises fortunes.  Established in 2003, the award is named after the longtime Minnesota Twins trainer who is widely respected for his contributions to the advancement of athletic training programs.