Evansville native says being Atlanta Braves' team physician is like winning the lottery

EVANSVILLE — It's been surreal for Dr. Lee Kneer to be in this position.

The 1998 North graduate had aspirations of being a baseball player. One of his favorite players growing up was Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. But he suffered facial fractures after colliding with another player in high school. As the door to his baseball career closed, another door of working in sports medicine opened.

The lifelong Cardinals fan attended Saint Louis University for pre-med because "it was the closest university to Busch Stadium." He worked at Schnuck's before attending medical school in Indianapolis and later completing residency in Utah.

Kneer then moved to Atlanta for a sports medicine fellowship at Emory University. He's worked with the Atlanta Falcons and U.S. Soccer throughout his career and eventually joined the Atlanta Braves in 2017. He was there for the World Series victory against the Astros four years later.

And last November, Kneer was promoted to be the Braves' head team physician.

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"If you told me this was going to be my job when I was a kid, I would have thought I'd won the lottery," Kneer said. "It's just funny how life ends up working out."

Kneer's job is rewarding. But it hasn't always been roses. He knows he has to break bad news to athletes. He's seen Mike Soroka re-tear his right Achilles tendon after rehabbing for nine months and recently Spencer Strider suffered a season-ending elbow injury against the Diamondbacks.

"I'm on call 24/7, 365. And that's kind of the name of the game," Kneer said. "As the head team physician, the buck stops with me. I enjoy that role, and I'm thankful to be in that position."

Kneer already made plenty of fond memories working with the Braves, from visiting Dodger Stadium to riding in the World Series victory parade with his wife, Cara, and their two sons. He was overjoyed seeing them interact with all of the players. He's also proud to see another Evansville face within the organization as Harrison grad Brandon Gaudin is the Braves' play-by-play announcer for Bally Sports.

That's not the only tie back to Evansville — another North Sider also worked with the Braves. The late David Pursley, a Braves Hall of Famer who graduated from Central, was a longtime athletic trainer who worked in the organization from 1961-2002.

"There's a peculiar Evansville connection with the Atlanta Braves," Kneer said. "It's cool to be a part of it."

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Kneer says he didn't grow up in the best of circumstances, but he's thankful for every teacher who guided him to where he is now. He also serves as the head team physician at Dunwoody High School, located 12 miles away from Truist Park.

He enjoys caring for high school athletes, who have fewer resources than professional baseball players. Kneer finds it just as fun as working for the Braves. He also cares for professional pickleballers, marathon runners, bowlers and ultimate frisbee players. Kneer takes pride in ensuring all of his athletes return to tip-top shape.

"At the high school level, I might be the only opportunity that kid has to have someone intervene from a medical standpoint," Kneer said. "You really feel like you are making a big impact on a young adult's life. It's just different from professional sports but equally as rewarding."

Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Twashington490.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Meet the Atlanta Braves' team physician, Evansville native Lee Kneer