Student Internships
Preparing the next generation of baseball physical therapists.
Baseball Physical Therapy Student Internships
Facilitating development of the next generation of Baseball Physical Therapists is a fundamental goal of the Professional Baseball Physical Therapist Society. The PBPTS is proud to offer a means of connecting Student Physical Therapists with Major League Organizations who are looking to host students for their clinical rotations.
The PBPTS Student Internship Portal is currently closed. If you are attempting to submit your application materials, please check back during our open-enrollment period running from November 1 through January 1! If you have questions, please see the FAQ below!
Q: Why am I only able to submit my materials in the Winter months?
A: With the heavy traffic this program receives, we are only able to review and distribute these applications during the baseball offseason. Every member of our team is currently employed in professional baseball and our jobs keep us very busy in-season. While we would love to keep this open year-round, it just isn’t feasible for us to manage this program in-season.
Q: What is the likelihood of me being selected for one of these clinical rotations?
A: This will be variable from year to year. You SHOULD NOT rely on this program as your primary plan for your clinical rotation. It is highly advisable that all students applying to the program have a contingency rotation in-place that they can fall back on!
Q: When can I expect to hear back about my application?
A: Unfortunately there is no timeline for if and when you can expect to hear from a team. There will be many students who do not hear back from a team at all. Our hope is that every interested student is successful in this program, but unfortunately the highly competitive nature of this program makes that impossible.
Q: How do I know if my application materials were received?
A: Shoot us an email at pbptsinternships@gmail.com and we will be happy to double check for you!
Q: Can PBPTS check on the status of my application materials for me?
A: While PBPTS is able to tell you if your materials were received and distributed, we are unable to tell you anything beyond that. Once your application is sent out to interested teams, we are unable to provide any further information on your application status.
How does this work?
With few exceptions, most student internships are run out of a given team’s Spring Training facility, located in either Florida or Arizona. At the bottom of this page, you will find a link to submit your application based on your location preference. Once your application is submitted, the Fellowship and Student Committee will review your file and distribute your materials to all teams that have indicated they are interested in hosting a student during that time frame. If a team sees your application and thinks you may be a good fit, a representative from that Organization will reach out to the student to move the process to the next steps. The PBPTS is only able to provide this initial “student-exposure” and has no control over anything beyond distributing your application materials. Please note that submission of application does not guarantee automatic acceptance into a clinical rotation with an MLB Organization. Due to the highly competitive selection process, a phone and/or Zoom interview will likely be required.
Who should apply?
The PBPTS is specifically looking for Physical Therapy students who have a strong interest in pursuing a career in baseball. Applicants should have good communication skills and a high level of professionalism. To be considered eligible for the internship program, applicants must be currently enrolled in a CAPTE-accredited Physical Therapy Program. Applicants must also have completed, at minimum, 1 (one) full-time clinical rotation in an outpatient orthopedics and/or sports setting. Please note that you only need to have completed the full-time clinical rotation prior to your proposed rotation date. It does not need to be completed prior to you submitting you materials.
When should I apply?
Students can apply during the open enrollment period, running from November 1 through January 1 of each year. It is generally recommended that students submit their application a full year prior to their proposed clinical. For example, if the student knows their clinical rotation is during the summer semester of their 3rd year, they should submit their application during the fall semester (November – January) of their 2nd year. Please note that there is no guarantee that you will be contacted by an MLB organization after submitting your application. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that your school will be successful in establishing a clinical contract with an MLB Organization. The PBPTS is here to help facilitate this process, but successful placement is contingent upon 1.) the availability of open spots for students, and 2.) the relationship between the PT school and the MLB Organizations themselves.
WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?
In addition to general background and contact information, students will be required to upload the following supporting documents:
- A copy of their school curriculum
- A current resume
- At least 1 (one) letter of reference written by a PT school faculty member
- A cover letter describing why the student wishes to complete a clinical rotation in baseball
What type of experience can I expect?
Students can expect to work in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment, working alongside Athletic Trainers, Strength & Conditioning Coaches, Performance Science staff, Dietitians, and others. The time commitment on the student’s end will likely be greater than what they’re used to. Long hours are to be anticipated, especially if your clinical rotation is during Spring Training. Working weekends will be expected just as it is with all the full-time staff. However, for those interested in working in baseball, the knowledge and experience gained will be tremendous! With few exceptions, these clinicals are unpaid. The student should be prepared to assume responsibility for all travel and housing expenses. However, students are encouraged to inquire about potential benefits a club may be able to offer, including but not limited to meals, team housing, clothing, etc.
Ready to Apply?
Access our form through the link below to get started.