NewsHanley claims Marlins' first batting title
All-Star shortstop finishes '09 season with .342 average
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/04/09 7:36 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA -- Dick Groat no longer is the answer to the trivia question.Now when people ask who is the most recent National League shortstop to win the batting title, Hanley Ramirez's name will pop up.
Ramirez became the first Marlin to capture the batting title. The 25-year-old Dominican Republic native finished the season at .342, with the next closest challenger being Pablo Sandoval of the Giants (.330).
Ramirez is the first shortstop to win the NL crown since Groat of the Pirates in 1960. To show how rare it is for shortstops to capture the title, consider Arky Vaughan and Honus Wagner are the only others in NL history.
"It's a lot of work and a lot of dedication," said Ramirez, who didn't play in Sunday's 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Phillies in the season final- because he was nursing a bruised right knee. "At the same time, our coaching staff, they've been with me since Day 1. I feel like I have improved a lot. I'm motivated to improve. I've got to keep on working hard."
Ramirez also established the Marlins' record for highest batting average, topping the .339 by Miguel Cabrera in 2006. Cabrera that season finished second to Freddy Sanchez, then of the Pirates.
"That's a great accomplishment, the batting title," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He was hitting .350, .360 the whole year. It's a good feather in his cap. To me, he's got a lot left for him to keep improving. What goes away is the defense. This guy went from 22 errors to 10."
In his fourth season with Florida, Ramirez has firmly established himself as one of the game's elite players. His overall numbers were staggering. He had 197 hits in 151 games, and finished with 42 doubles, one triple, 24 home runs and 106 RBIs. He also scored 101 runs and stole 27 bases.
Ramirez raised his career batting average to .316, and he showed he can produce while batting third. In his first three seasons, he was primarily a leadoff batter.
The focal point of the offense, Ramirez benefited by the addition of rookie Chris Coghlan to the leadoff spot, and Jorge Cantu, who drove in 100 runs, batting cleanup.
"I don't really take him for granted," Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said. "I know we've talked about it a million times, there is really nothing he can't do. He can do it all. So when he does something, you just say, 'That's Hanley being Hanley.' But that doesn't mean he's not being appreciated. He just had another great year. We asked him to move in the three hole and help drive the offense. He and Jorge did it. It was big for us."
During the season, Ramirez set a personal high with a 16-game hitting streak from Aug. 5-21, collecting 12 multi-hit games over that span.
The All-Star shortstop was cruising along, batting .361 on Sept. 13, before he went into a slump in the final weeks. In his final 17 games, Ramirez hit at a .188 clip (12-for-64). On Saturday, he snapped an 0-for-11 rut with a double.
"This guy hit .350 all year," hitting coach Jim Presley said. "He got into a little tailspin here at the end, but that happens. I'm happy for him. I really am. To win the batting title is hard to do, just like winning the Cy Young [Award]. He is always getting pitched around. I'm glad he did it. It's his award. He really had a big year for us."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
