Chris Coghlan and Andrew Bailey Named MLB Rookies of the Year

The Baseball Writers Association of America announced the winners of the 2009 American League and National League Rookie of the Year Awards on Monday. Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Andrew Bailey won the AL Rookie of the Year Award while Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan was the recipient of the NL Rookie of the Year. The 25-year-old Bailey, who was the only rookie in all of baseball to earn a spot on the All-Star team in 2009, proved to be one of the league's most promising young closers during his debut campaign.

Bailey converted 26 of his 30 save opportunities while posting an extremely impressive 1.84 earned run average. The Athletics closer averaged more than one strikeout per inning and he managed to hold opposing batters to a .164 batting average. Bailey significantly helped his cause for the award in the last month of the season by not allowing an earned run in any of his final 10 appearances that he made in 2009. According to The USA Today, Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting with eight first-place votes.

Coghlan was one of the most productive players in all of baseball after the All-Star break, posting a league high 113 hits in the second half of the season. His 113 hits after the All-Star break were the most in MLB since 1965 and he led all National League rookies in several categories including runs, hits, on-base percentage, doubles and total bases out of the leadoff spot in Florida's lineup.