Whether you pronounce his name “shoop,” “scoop,” “scope,” or something completely different, there is one thing upon which we all can agree: Johnny Beisbol is a talented kid.
Jonathan Schoop (it’s “scope,” by the way…) started his “career” as a member of his native Curaçao’s Little League World Series championship team in 2004, before he was even a teenager. The Orioles signed the amateur free agent in August of 2008, just two months before his 17th birthday. He began working his way up through the minors and developed into a top prospect for the O’s.
In 2011, he joined a fellow Orioles prospect you may have heard of – a third baseman who goes by the name Machado – in the minor league All Star Futures Game. Schoop went on to be named the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year, an award given to the best Orioles minor leaguer each season.
After a very good minor league career, he made his debut with the O’s on September 25, 2013 and wasted little time making an impression. He hit a 430-foot bomb off Blue Jays pitcher Kyle Drabek in his third career plate appearance, after notching a single in his first at bat earlier in the game. I was sitting in left field near the bullpens at Camden Yards when Schoop launched that first career home run into the Eutaw Street bleachers, and I can honestly say it was one of the most impressive in-game blasts I have ever seen at OPACY.
Let me also point out that Schoop typically puts on a show during batting practice. If you find yourself in the bleachers while he’s at the dish, you better keep your guard up. I asked fellow staff writer and Camden Yards ballhawk Tim Anderson for his opinion, and he agreed with me wholeheartedly. “The power display that Schoop puts on during BP is stunning,” Tim told me, “especially when you are someone who watches a lot of batting practice. When Schoop is in the cage, it’s not just one or two that are demolished; it’s one after another after another after another.”
Despite hitting only .209 in his first full season last year, Schoop blasted 16 home runs, good for third among American League second basemen.For what it’s worth, the two ahead of him (Brian Dozier with 23 and Ian Kinsler with 17) each had 225+ more plate appearances than Schoop. It’s no secret that Jonathan’s bat could be a vital weapon for the Birds, as long as he continues to work on his plate discipline and his ability to lay off “junk” pitches. He is still just 23 years old with a lot of room to grow and develop as a hitter.
“Later in the season last year,” Anderson told me, “he seemed to be working on his power to the opposite field [during batting practice] and even that seemed easy for him. I think that when he is comfortable – like in BP – and gets into a groove at the plate, he can easily reproduce that power in the game.”
Schoop’s defense, however, is what really keeps him in the lineup. He posted a 5.8 UZR (ultimate zone rating) last season, good for seventh among qualified second basemen. His 3.2 DPR, which calculates the number of runs saved based on double plays turned, was best in the majors among second basemen, but I could have told you that without a statistic. Whether or not you are a believer in the “eye test” to determine the value of a player, there is no denying that Schoop turns one of the quickest, prettiest double plays in baseball.
There is no stat to portray how comforting it is to a pitcher to have a defender like Schoop behind him. I had an opportunity to chat with former Orioles prospect, RHP Zach Clark, who played with Jonathan for parts of the 2012 and 2013 seasons in Bowie and Norfolk, respectively. He told me that he has always been impressed with Jonathan’s abilities and is proud of what he has accomplished. “When Schoopy was behind me I felt really good,” Clark said. “Especially being a ground ball pitcher. It was even better knowing he and Manny were playing up the middle and could turn balls that most couldn’t even get to into double plays. He’s not your typical second baseman because of his size and arm, but he still made the routine plays and then some.
“Schoop loves to play and enjoys competing and working to get better. He loves to be challenged and compete against the best. He always seemed to have his best at bats against the best pitchers or make big plays when it counted most. He’s at his best when it matters most.”
I think Masahiro Tanaka would agree.
As ESR staff writer Geno Rodriguez wrote last week, the recent signing of speedy infielder Everth Cabrera raises a few questions regarding Schoop’s potential playing time, but I agree with Geno that Schoop should have the opportunity to play second base every day. That will give him a prolonged chance to continue his development against major league pitching while Buck uses Cabrera as a utility guy who could provide aging shortstop J.J. Hardy a day of rest here and there.
Don’t even get me started on O’s fans’ strange love affair with infielder Ryan Flaherty. Schoop is a far better option both offensively and defensively, in my opinion. I’ll just leave it at that.
Assuming health and regular playing time, I have no reason to believe that Schoop could not hit over 20, maybe even 25, home runs this season, and even more down the road. Patience is a virtue when it comes to young ballplayers, and I believe we need to be especially patient with Jonathan. He certainly has the tools to be a huge threat in our lineup for years to come. He just needs a chance.
Side note: I challenge you to find a player in baseball with a cooler middle name than his – Jonathan Rufino Jezus Schoop.
