NewsCoghlan a serious contender for NL ROY
Hanley, Johnson to also earn recognition in award season
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
11/11/09 3:08 PM EST
MIAMI -- Dontrelle Willis did it in 2003. Hanley Ramirez followed up in '06. Will Chris Coghlan continue the three-year National League Rookie of the Year trend for the Marlins?He's certainly a deserving candidate.
Coghlan's numbers will gain him heavy consideration when the Baseball Writers' Association of America announces its Rookie of the Year winners on Monday, Nov. 16.
Willis and Ramirez are the only Marlins to claim the top rookie honor. An argument can be made that Coghlan has had a better break-in season than either of them.
Coghlan faces tough competition in the NL voting. Pitchers J.A. Happ (Phillies) and Tommy Hanson (Braves) are strong candidates, as are Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), Casey McGehee (Brewers) and Garrett Jones (Pirates).
The 24-year-old, who was a compensatory first-round Draft pick out of Ole Miss in 2006, was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans on May 8.
Asked to convert from second base to left field, Coghlan solidified the Marlins' leadoff spot in the order. His emergence is a major reason Florida remained in playoff contention until the final week of the season.
Coghlan finished sixth in the NL in batting average, hitting .321 while collecting 162 hits and scoring 84 runs. His on-base percentage was .390.
After the All-Star break is when Coghlan really took off.
Strengthening his Rookie of the Year credentials was he paced all Major Leaguers in hits after the break. Coghlan had 113 hits, and his batting average was .372.
The player who followed Coghlan in batting average since the break was Joe Mauer (.358), who won the American League batting title.
Derek Jeter's 102 hits are second to Coghlan since the break, and the Yankees' captain had 12 fewer.
"You don't play this game to win those awards, but that's a reward you get for putting up a good year," Coghlan said after the last game of the season. "I think I put up a good year. I can't really say who is going to win [Rookie of the Year]. I don't know. I'm sure every team that has a player who has a chance is pushing him. It's all up to the writers."
Coghlan's 113 hits since the break matched a Marlins record set by Juan Pierre in 2004. It's the highest second-half hit total by any National Leaguer since 1965.
Prior to Coghlan's big season, Ramirez and Jeff Conine held the distinction of posting the highest batting average by a Florida rookie. Each hit .292.
Coghlan won't be the only Marlin in consideration for postseason honors.
Ramirez, the two-time All-Star shortstop, became the first player in team history to win a batting title.
The 25-year-old hit .342, and once again, he showed why he ranks among the elite in the game.
After primarily leading off his first three seasons, Ramirez shifted to the middle of the lineup. Securing the No. 3 spot, he finished with 24 home runs and a career-high 106 RBIs. He also scored 101 runs.
Ramirez projects to be in the top five in the NL MVP voting. St. Louis' Albert Pujols is regarded as the favorite for the award, which will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Ramirez also is a favorite to claim the Silver Slugger Award for NL shortstops, which will be announced on Thursday. His 106 RBIs are the most by any Senior Circuit shortstop.
If he wins, it will be Ramirez's second consecutive Silver Slugger crown. In 2008, the Dominican Republic native belted 33 home runs to go along with a .540 slugging percentage.
The NL Gold Glove winners were announced on Wednesday, and even though outfielder Cody Ross, who committed just three errors, was the team's strongest candidate, the Marlins were shut out. No Marlin has held the distinction since Luis Castillo (second base) and Mike Lowell (third base) in 2005.
What may have hurt Ross, however, is he split time between center and right field. So he may not have the recognition for being in one position, like, say, Philadelphia center fielder Shane Victorino, a winner in 2008 and '09.
Pitcher Josh Johnson, who had a career year, finished 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA. Johnson should be a top 10 finisher in the NL Cy Young Award vote, but he likely won't be in the top five.
The NL Cy Young Award will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 19.
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
