Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan, a former East Lake standout, has been named the National League Rookie of the Year.

Coghlan edged Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ in a tight race after receiving 17 first-place votes and 105 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Happ had 10 first-place votes and 94 points.

In 128 games, Coglan batted .321 with nine homers and 47 RBIs.

His batting average ranked sixth in the N.L.

Coghlan's journey to baseball's highest level was not without hurdles.

When Coghlan was a sophomore in high school, his father, Tim Coghlan, who trained police officers, was killed in a car accident in Maryland. He was 44.

Coghlan left baseball briefly after his father died, choosing not to play in the summer of 2001. Before long, though, he was on the field again. And excelling.

As an East Lake senior in 2003, Coghlan was the St. Petersburg Times' Player of the Year. Although Arizona picked him in the 18th round of the Major League baseball amateur draft, Coghlan chose to attend the University of Mississippi, which proved to be a smart decision. After a stellar junior season, he was the 36th overall pick by the Marlins.

In Triple-A New Orleans this year, Coghlan was hitting .344 with three homers, nine doubles, a triple and 22 RBIs before getting promoted after a Marlins pitcher was injured.

In August, Coghlan was named NL Rookie of the Month.

Here’s how he earned the honor:

According to the Miami Herald, Coghlan established a Marlins team record with 47 hits in 28 games in August and became only the second rookie in the past 60 years to record at least 47 hits in a month. He hit .385 with 21 runs scored, four homers, 18 RBI, six doubles and three triples.