Jonathan Schoop named Most Valuable Oriole

Jonathan Schoop is assured of receiving votes this year for Most Valuable Player in the American League. In the meantime, he's being honored as the top player on his team.

Schoop has been chosen as the recipient of this year's Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. He will be recognized for his accomplishments in an on-field ceremony prior to Sunday's final home regular season game against the Rays.

Ballots aren't made public, but the assumption here is that Schoop, 25, was a unanimous winner. Three players had to be chosen on a 5-3-1 point system. There's no way anyone could have dropped Schoop to second or third unless performing a dare.

It's been a career year for Schoop, who's batting .295/.340/.514 (174-for-590) with 33 doubles, 32 home runs, 105 RBIs and 88 runs scored. He's already set career highs in hits, home runs, runs and RBIs.

A native of Curacao who made his first All-Star team this summer as the club's lone representative, Schoop ranks second in the American League in RBIs, and his 51 since the All-Star break lead the AL and are tied for fourth in the majors. His 64 extra-base hits as a second baseman rank third in baseball.

Schoop's 65 extra-base hits are 13th-most in the American League. His 51 multi-hit games rank fifth and his 174 hits are tied for fifth.

Schoop broke his own record for most home runs in a season by an Orioles second baseman. His 95th RBI on Aug. 26 enabled him to pass Robert Alomar for first place.

The Orioles don't announce second- and third-place finishers. Dylan Bundy, Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Trey Mancini and Welington Castillo also received votes.