Southampton Breaker, All-Star Game MVP Ty Gilligan Has Been Around Baseball His Entire Life

Ty Gilligan hit an unforgettable two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning of the 2023 Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game played at Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor on July 15. The home run tied the game at nine, which would ultimately be the final score — the first-ever tie in the 10 years of the HBCL All-Star Game — and earned Gilligan All-Star Game MVP honors.

Gilligan’s approach to the All-Star Game, he said, was the same as any other game — something he learned from professionals.

His father, Larry, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the 1988 MLB Draft out of Lakeland Regional High School in Wanaque, New Jersey, but he decided to attend Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey, which eventually led to him being drafted once again, this time in the 17th round of the 1990 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox.

While Larry Gilligan was playing, he felt a need for other baseball glove options, so he came up with some patentable ideas. Larry then went to his brother, Joe, who had a ton of logistical ideas and the two of them, in 1997, created Akadema, a sporting gloves company that specializes in gloves.

Between Akadema and his father’s own professional baseball career, Ty Gilligan has been around professionals his entire life.

“Having a father who played professional baseball, I was taught at a very young age how to play the game the right way.” Ty said. “I feel very blessed for that.”

Ty Gilligan, who attends Dominican University in Orangeburg, New York, also played for the Akadema Prospects in his youth, up until college. The Akadema Prospects are a travel baseball organization based out of Bloomingdale, New Jersey, and play most of their games in the state.

“I was surrounded by the best coaches in the world,” he said, “many professional guys who just knew the game very well.”

Despite playing with such great coaches and players, Ty Gilligan said that this summer playing for the Southampton Breakers in the HCBL has been the most fun he’s had playing baseball.

“I’m just happy to be here,” he said. “We have such an incredible coaching staff that has taught me so much, as well as being surrounded by a great group of ballplayers.”

The HCBL has appreciated having Gilligan just as much as he has appreciated playing in the league. Breakers manager Rob Cafiero said that the energy Gilligan brings to the field is something that is unmatched and something that his teammates really feed off.

“There is definitely something special with Ty,” Cafiero said. “Not only baseball-wise, with his dad’s background, but with Ty having great parents and being around great baseball his entire life.”

The HCBL has also gained support from Akadema itself — the company gave each All-Star prior to the game a pair of sunglasses.

“Having the support from Akadema, which is one of the best baseball companies in the country, is huge for the league,” Cafiero said. “We look forward to continuing and growing the relationship between the HCBL and Akadema in the future.”

Gilligan also represented the HCBL in the NACSB Prospect Games, which were held in June at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Gilligan also hit a home run then to secure a victory for the HCBL.

“I’m happy we could show everyone just how good the Hamptons League is,” Gilligan said. “We have a lot of incredible players in this league.”

Gilligan tries to help out the company in any way possible, and has been doing so since a very young age. He only uses Akadema equipment, including baseball gloves, batting gloves, bats and more.

“Being able to use the best baseball products in the world for free has been such a blessing,” he said. “It was awesome being able to have that available to me so I’ve always been loyal to my family.”

When asked if he has any intention of taking over the company one day, Ty said, “As far as the future, I’m not entirely sure what that holds, but that’s definitely something I’ve wanted to do.”