Kevin Harmon announces retirement as Texas Rangers head athletic trainer

Arlington, Texas - Texas Rangers Major League Head Athletic Trainer Kevin Harmon announced today that he is retiring from professional baseball to pursue other interests. His retirement is effective at the end of this month.u5:p
The Rangers have promoted Major League Athletic Trainer Matt Lucero to the Head Athletic Trainer's position to replace Harmon.u5:p
"I have decided that this is the right time for me to retire from professional baseball to pursue other interests, both on a personal and family level," said Harmon, who just completed his 16th season with the organization, his 14th on the Major League staff. "I feel very blessed to have to have worked for so many years with the Rangers and to have been a part of so many great memories. I want to thank the players, coaches, and front office staff for all of their support and friendship."u5:p
"The Rangers organization owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Kevin Harmon," said President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jon Daniels. "Kevin's dedication and willingness to go the extra mile have played a major role in keeping our players on the field for many years. On behalf of everyone on the Rangers, I wish him, Melony, and their family the very best for the years ahead.u5:p
Harmon joined the Texas organization as its Minor League medical and strength coordinator prior to the 2003 season and was promoted to the Major League staff two years later to assist Head Trainer Jamie Reed. When Reed assumed a new role as Senior Director of Medical Operations in November 2013, Harmon was appointed Head Athletic Trainer. He previously worked in the Atlanta, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay organizations and has been in professional baseball since 1986.u5:p
Lucero has spent the last eight seasons as a Major League Athletic trainer for the Rangers. He originally joined the Texas organization in 2006 as the minor league rehabilitation coordinator and then served as the minor league medical coordinator from 2007-10 before joining the big league staff. Lucero was a minor league trainer in the Tampa Bay Rays organization from 1999-2005 and has been an athletic trainer since 1993.u5:p
"We are fortunate to have Matt Lucero assume the role as Head Athletic Trainer," said Daniels. "Matt has a long history with the Texas organization and worked under two exceptional trainers on the big league level in Jamie Reed and Kevin Harmon."u5:p
Lucero becomes just the fifth Head Trainer in the Rangers' 47 years in Texas, joining Bill Zeigler (1972-91), Danny Wheat (1992-2002), Reed (2003-13), and Harmon (2014-18). u5:p