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Former Greensboro Grasshopper Chris Coghlan has been named National League Rookie of the Year in a close vote Monday.

"I couldn't have written it better," Coghlan said during a conference call. A second baseman in the minors, Coghlan made a hasty shift to left field in May and found a home atop Florida's lineup. Bailey also switched successfully, going from struggling Double-A starter to All-Star reliever in a year.

Coghlan played in 81 games for the Grasshoppers during the 2007 season. He had 99 hits and batted .325. Coghlan edged Philadelphia pitcher J.A. Happ, receiving 17 first-place votes and 105 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Oakland closer Andrew Bailey won the award in the American League.

Bailey, a surprise All-Star this season, had 26 saves and a 1.84 ERA. He was selected first on 13 of 28 ballots and finished with 88 points. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus was the runner-up with 65 points, one more than Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello.

Coghlan, a second baseman in the minors, made a hasty shift to left field in May and found a home atop Florida's lineup.

"It wasn't the easiest transition," Coghlan said. "I just tried to work as hard as I could to get as comfortable as I could in the outfield."

The 24-year-old Coghlan overcame an early slump and had a superb second half. Emerging as a pesky leadoff hitter, he batted .321 with nine homers and 31 doubles in 128 games. He scored 84 runs and drove in 47.

Called up from the minors in May, Coghlan topped NL rookies in batting average, runs, hits (162), total bases (232) and on-base percentage (.390). Though he was left off seven ballots, he became the third Florida player to win the award, joining Hanley Ramirez (2006) and Dontrelle Willis (2003).

"At the end of the year I knew that I put myself in a good position to win," Coghlan said.

With two-time All-Star Dan Uggla playing second base in Florida, Coghlan's path to the majors was impeded. He was at Triple-A New Orleans this year when the Marlins told him they wanted to try him in the outfield.

Coghlan played one minor league game in left — without getting a fly ball — and then was brought up to the majors. He finished the season with five errors.

"A lot of people think I'm pretty bad out there. But I think it's an adjustment," he added. "I have confidence playing the outfield. It was a situation I embraced to get me to the big leagues the quickest and to help the team win games."

After winning Monday, Coghlan thought of his father, who died when he was 15.

"That was a tough point in my life," Coghlan said. "He was the one who instilled the work ethic in me and taught me the game. I know that he's proud, and I'm proud to win this award and he's definitely a big part of it."