Chris Coghlan – National League Rookie of the Year

The Florida Marlins once again have produced the National League Rookie of the Year, this time it was outfielder Chris Coghlan. You know what that means? In four to five years, he’ll be traded to a contending team due to financial constraints. Enough with the cheap shots thou, Coghlan put on quite a show this year for the Marlins and was the most deserving of this award in the NL.

Here’s the official stat line. 128 games, .321 average over 504 at-bats. He hit 31 doubles, 6 triples and 9 homers with 47 runs batted in. In addition to that he stole 8 bases, walked 53 times and struck out only 77 times. He also batted leadoff in 106 of his 121 starts.

Want even more? After the All-Star break he was the best hitter for average in baseball. He batted .372 (more then ML-season leader Joe Mauer) and had more hits in that time then Derek Jeter (113 to 102). Both numbers were the best in baseball after the break.

What makes those stats even more impressive is that he hit like that while learning a new position. Coghlan was an infielder in the minor leagues and was asked to convert to left field to help the team out after Cameron Maybin turned out to be a flop. He also hit in the leadoff spot, another position he had never experienced.

If this kid continues to develop he can become one of the next great stars in baseball.

While winning the award was a great accomplishment for Coghlan there were many other players who would of won in a normal season. They include Tommy Hanson of the Atlanta Braves, J.A. Happ of the Philadelphia Phillies (pretty sure Philadelphia fans and bloggers are going wild that he didn’t win the award), Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Casey McGehee of the Milwaukee Brewers and Colby Ramus of the St. Louis Cardinals.

If it was a normal season, all of those guys could of and probably would of been run away winners. That just shows you how great of a season Coghlan had in Florida. This is one time you can say the voters got an award right.

Unfortunately most of the casual fans of baseball have probably never heard of the guy. That’s what happens when you’re stuck playing for the Marlins.