08/30/2009 - Coghlan in elite company with hot bat

MIAMI -- Each hit this month is placing Chris Coghlan in more elite company.

Add Wally Moon to the names Ichiro Suzuki and Todd Helton.

With a single in the seventh inning on Saturday night, Coghlan put his name along side Suzuki and Helton.

The hit was Coghlan's 45th in August. It's the most hits by a rookie in any month since Suzuki collected 51 in August 2001. You have to go back to Helton's 45 hits in August 1998 to find a National League rookie piling up as many hits in a month.

Coghlan improved on his status on Sunday against the Padres. He opened the fourth inning with a single off Mat Latos. The 46 hits are the most by a Marlin in any month.

The last NL rookie with more than 46 hits in a month was Moon, who had 52 with the Cardinals in July 1954.

"You hear names like that, and it's an honor to be mentioned in whatever they accomplished," Coghlan said. "Those are great players. They're unbelievable. I love the way both of those players play. But it's something to think about at the end of the year."

Coghlan, 24, is building a case to be the NL Rookie of the Year. Called up from Triple-A New Orleans in May, the left-handed hitter has solidified Florida's leadoff spot and left field position. A converted infielder, Coghlan is being considered by the organization to remain in left field next season despite playing second and third base in the Minors.

Informed that Coghlan has placed his name with both Ichiro and Helton, Marlins hitting coach Jim Presley said: "You're looking at some caliber hitters there."

Coghlan has posted solid numbers at every level, and the Marlins feel he will make greater strides as his career progresses.

"This kid, he's a good hitter, but he's going to get better as he goes along in his career," Presley said. "He's bunted some, getting on base. He's taking his walks.

"He's got a great approach. He stays inside the ball. He never goes outside of what he's trying to do. He just never gets out of his game. He's so good staying inside the ball, which is hard for guys to do, but he's known this for such a long time. That's why he's hitting close to .300, getting big hits and getting on base."

Coghlan is taking the personal achievements in stride.

Foremost on his mind is winning and helping the Marlins reach the playoffs.

Florida has ground to make up in the NL East and Wild Card standings in the final month. That's been Coghlan's focus.

"Like I say, and I truly believe it, but individual accomplishments, at the end of the year, you can sit back and look at what you did good, and what you did bad, and what you can improve on," Coghlan said. "You can thank your teammates, because they're the ones who allow you to have success.

"In the grand scheme of things, I don't think about it. That's really cool, but the big picture is winning. If that happens, at the end of the season, you have a lot of people to thank."

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.