Corpus Christi Hooks Media Guide 2018 Corpus Christi Hooks Media Guide | Page 11

FIELD STAFF JOHN GREGORICH ATHLETIC TRAINER John Gregorich begins his first season with the Hooks, and his fifth campaign as an athletic trainer in the Astros organization. Last year, Gregorich was stationed in Buies Creek, N.C., the Carolina League home of Houston’s Advanced A affiliate. He worked for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York- Penn League from 2015 to 2016. Gregorich also spent a year with the Greeneville Astros, earning 2014 PBATS Appalachian League Trainer of the Year honors. Prior to joining Houston, the Chardon, Ohio, native served as a sports medicine intern for the Indians organization. Gregorich was with the Major League club in 2013 after working for Cleveland’s Midwest League affiliate, the Lake County Captains, in 2012. He was also a graduate student athletic trainer for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga during the 2012 football season. Gregorich earned his master’s degree in athletic training at UT-Chattanooga in 2013. In 2011, he received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky. John and his wife, Chrystal, currently live in West Palm Beach, Fla. RACHEL BALKOVEC STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH Rachel Balkovec joins the Hooks after operating as the Astros Latin American strength and conditioning coordinator for the past two seasons. In addition to her coordinator duties, she was a member of the GCL Astros field staff. Prior to her time with Houston, Balkovec worked for two years as the Cardinals minor league strength and conditioning coordinator. She was also a strength coach with the White Sox during the 2013-14 offseason. Her pro baseball career began as a minor league strength coach with St. Louis in 2012. Balkovec’s next post was with Los Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League, where she assisted in marketing and promotions. She then worked as a strength coach in the Arizona Fall League before serving as a volunteer assistant at Arizona State University. Balkovec, the first female strength coach in the history of professional baseball, graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science. While in Albuquerque, she was a catcher for the Lobos softball team. Balkovec earned her master’s degree in sports administration from LSU. She also served as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Tigers. 11