The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to announce early next week the hiring of Sue Falsone as their new head physical therapist/athletic trainer, sources told ESPN.com.
Falsone will become the first woman to serve as head athletic trainer or physical therapist of a team in any of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues.
Falsone, currently the vice president of performance physical therapy and team sports at Athletes' Performance in Phoenix, also has served as a consultant to the Dodgers since 2007.
While at Athletes' Performance, Falsone worked with baseball players from multiple organizations seeking treatment during the offseason or extended disabled list stays.
ESPN baseball analyst Curt Schilling rehabbed with Falsone when he was pitching for the Boston Red Sox.
"I can't imagine anyone more equipped to get that position, both from an intelligence perspective and the makeup of her personality," Schilling said when told of Falsone's impending hire with the Dodgers. "She was destined for this."
Schilling dismissed Falsone's gender as a potential barrier in Major League Baseball's environment. She directed Schilling's ankle rehabilitation following his surgery in 2004.
"I could care less," he said. "If the person treating me gets me healthy and back on the field, it doesn't matter what their gender, race or anything else is. It's all about results."
The Dodgers said they could not confirm the report of Falsone's hiring.
"I cannot comment at this time," Falsone said.
Stan Conte, the team's current director of medical services, is expected to remain with the organization.
Stephania Bell is a physical therapist who is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist.