Baxter Halligan did it all for PLNU Baseball.
 
After a stellar playing career for the Sea Lions, he joined the Point Loma coaching staff this season.
 
Now he's taking his talents to professional baseball after being hired as a Biomechanics Fellow for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.
 
In his new role, Halligan said he will primarily work with players on the Pirates' 40-man roster, evaluating biomechanics reports and analyzing pitching metrics with the intention of identifying both inefficiencies that could result in possible injury and areas for improved performance.
 
"Working in professional baseball has always been a dream of mine and I'm extremely excited about this new opportunity," Halligan said. "What excites me the most is the chance to work alongside the big-league staff and make a real impact on the organization."
 

Beyond Excited For Assistant Coach and Former Player (2022 D2 Pitcher Of The Year), @baxter_halligan On Joining The @Pirates To Help Run Their Biomechanics Program. Baxter Is A Special Person And The Pirates Just Got Way Better! @plnu @plnubaseball @plnusealions #plnubaseball pic.twitter.com/TIRTZud9oW

— Justin James (@CoachJames_3) March 24, 2023

 
PLNU Head Coach Justin James is equally thrilled for Halligan.
 
"I'm just beyond excited for him," James said. "Good things happen to good people and good families. He's a rare breed that the world needs more of. He'll be missed and he represents exactly what a PLNU baseball player is supposed to be.
 
"Baxter first and foremost is a great person. He's respectful, hard-working and has great people skills. He grew so much in his time at The Point in all facets and matured into a great young man."
 
Halligan said he learned a lot from James during his time on The Point.
 
"I have learned several methods from Justin that enable me to assess players' mechanics and movements holistically, from a coach's point of view," Halligan said. "This understanding of a coach's perspective is crucial in the field of biomechanics.
 
"Through my time under Coach James, I gained a couple of skills that I believe are critical to success, yet often go unnoticed. In particular, I learned how to effectively communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner, as well as the value of strong organizational skills to maximize my effectiveness."
 
On the field as a Sea Lion, Halligan recorded a career 2.24 ERA in 132.1 innings pitched to go along with 157 strikeouts. As a hitter, he posted a career .338 batting average and .473 on-base % with 11 home runs and 76 RBIs.
 
His 2022 season was arguably one of the finest ever in Point Loma history, dominating both on the mound and in the batter's box, as he led the Sea Lions to a PacWest record 51 wins, a conference championship and a national runner-up finish.

In 17 starts on the bump in 2022, he went 14-2 with a 2.24 ERA in 100 innings pitched, striking out 120 batters. As a hitter, he batted .344 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs while recording an OPS of 1.028.
 
The two-time All-PacWest honoree won just about every award possible in 2022 – D2CCA and ABCA First Team All-American (Utility Pitcher), NCBWA Second Team All-American, NCBWA West Region Pitcher and Player of the Year, ABCA West Region Pitcher of the Year, PacWest Player and Pitcher of the Year, as well as PacWest Male Athlete of the Year.
 
He is only the second player in PacWest history to be recognized as the conference's Pitcher and Player of the Year in the same season.
 
"Baxter's impact can't be measured," James said. "He helped set the tone for the culture both on and off the field with his work ethic, as he dedicated himself to being the best player possible every single day. The amount of extra work he did I've never seen before.
 
"As a player he transformed himself into the best pitcher in the country all while handling middle of the lineup responsibilities where he excelled also. He could be a once-in-a-lifetime or career type player in a program.
 
"He's going to be a great coach. Players like him a lot, he communicates very well and you never have to tell him something twice. He's extremely sharp."