Former New Orleans Zephyrs Infielder Chris Coughlin Named NL Rookie of the Year

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Metairie, LA – Chris Coghlan, who began the 2009 season in the New Orleans Zephyrs’ infield, has been named National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, it was announced Monday.

Coghlan, a supplemental first round pick (36^th overall) by the Florida Marlins in 2006 out of the University of Mississippi, became the third Marlin to win the honor, beating out Philadelphia pitcher J.A. Happ. Coghlan received 17 first-place votes, while Happ received 10. Atlanta pitcher Tommy Hanson finished third in the voting.

The 24-year-old native of Palm Harbor, FL was batting a team-leading .344 in 25 games for the Zephyrs when he was promoted to the Marlins on May 8.

He went on to hit .321, sixth-best in the NL and the highest mark ever for a Marlins rookie, with nine home runs and 47 RBI in 128 games as Florida’s left fielder. He collected 47 hits in both August and September, becoming the first National League player to amass 94 hits in a two-month span since 1978.

The Zephyrs will open their 18^th season in the Crescent City on Thursday, April 8, 2010 against the Round Rock Express. For more information, contact the Zephyrs at (504) 734-5155.

Commissioner Bud Selig shaved drug suspensions of players and broke the rules of MLB. Will Manny Ramirez and three others do a year? What will happen to dozens of minor league players whose records, teams, and leagues are affected? Read the whole story at SZ ( www.mlnsports.com).