Gaby Sanchez creeps into NL Rookie of Year race

With all the hoopla surrounding young rookie phenoms such as Atlanta's Jason Heyward, Washington's Stephen Strasburg and the Marlins' Mike Stanton, it's easy to overlook a more seasoned Gaby Sanchez for possible NL Rookie of the Year honors.

But after Friday night's four-hit barrage, which included his first multi-homer game and a career-high six RBI — one shy of the club record and the most since Josh Willingham on Aug. 23, 2007 — Sanchez should be in the early conversation.

Sanchez is ranked first among rookies in doubles (14), second in extra-base hits (22), hits (59), total bases (31) and runs scored (31). He's third in average (.282), homers (7), walks (22), and slugging percentage (.459).

"It would be a great award to win, but winning [games] is everything,'' said Sanchez, 26, at least five years older than Heyward, Stanton and Strasburg. "I don't look at the publicity I'm not getting or [Heyward's] getting. I can't control that.

"I don't think about numbers or where I stand. I just care about winning and the only thing I look at is the standings.''

Marlins left fielder Chris Coghlan, last year's NL Rookie of the Year, was practically ignored until August, when he was in the midst of a torrid second half in which he batted .372 to end up at .321.

This year, Sanchez has been overshadowed by Heyward, who leads NL rookies in homers (10), total bases (102) and extra-base hits (24), and St. Louis' David Frees, the leader in average (.311) and hits (60).

"Let's see where he is in September,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said when asked if Sanchez could be the team's fourth rookie of the year, following Coghlan, Hanley Ramirez and Dontrelle Willis.

"He's one of those guys the more you see him, the more you appreciate him. He won't light up the stopwatch running to first base and he's not going to have Stanton-type power, not going to steal a bag, but over the course of a season he's pretty good.''



(sun-sentinel.com)