Schoop on returning to team, Flaherty on returning to lineup

SARASOTA, Fla. - With the end of the World Baseball Classic, the Orioles now have the whole band back together at their spring training camp. Outfielder Adam Jones was at Ed Smith Stadium earlier today, second baseman Jonathan Schoop met with reporters in the clubhouse this afternoon and pitcher Mychal Givens is at minor league camp this afternoon at Twin Lakes Park.

Third baseman Manny Machado is expected to play tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m. in Sarasota when the Orioles host the Twins. We await further word from manager Buck Showalter as to when the other returning players will get back into games.

Schoop had played in three Orioles' spring training games - none since Feb. 27 - when he left the club to fly to join the Team Netherlands in Korea for the WBC's opening round. His team advanced to the semifinals and was eliminated in 11 innings Monday night by Puerto Rico.

In the WBC, Schoop played in eight games, batting .222/.300/.333 and going 6-for-27 with a homer and four RBIs. Playing in those high-intensity, high-level games has him set to go, he said, for the 2017 season.

"I'm ready. I'm ready already," Schoop said. "Those games are so important to me. If you go through the motions, you won't win. You've got to go in there 100 percent and compete. That's all that matters, like compete, just play hard and try to win. It's all about winning. It's like the season - win

"I'm ready, whatever Buck wants me to do. That's why I'm here. I'm ready. It's over, and I'm here to focus. If they need me tomorrow, if they want me to play tomorrow, I'm ready to play.

"It was really good. The flight was long. When we get there, all together ... it was a good experience. I learned a lot. We went to the semifinal and we had a good run. We enjoyed it, and I think I'm better now, too."

A reporter asked Schoop if he had some bragging rights now over his close friend Machado with his team advancing further in the WBC.

"I'm playing chess with him right now," Schoop said. "I'm having fun with him. I wanted to play against him, but they fell off a little bit, but Puerto Rico has a good team, too. They beat them and they beat us, too. But it was fun, fun to watch him on TV, watch Adam, too, make a great catch off Manny. It was fun to watch and fun to play in the WBC."

While away from the team, Schoop followed what was happening back in Florida.

"I kept up with what they're doing because this is my team," he said. "I play here, the team is here. Me and Manny and Jones, we were talking a little bit and (want) to come back ready. Come back ready to go. I'm ready."

Schoop said he doesn't know how much he will play in exhibition games leading up to the opener.

"No, no, I haven't (discussed that with Buck). It's one more week to go?" Schoop said. "And if I was in spring training, I'm supposed to be ready now, too. I think I'm 200 percent (ready) to go."

Schoop has played in the WBC twice. Will there be a third time?

"I don't know," he said. "How many years from now? I don't know. I've got to see where I'm at. I've got to focus over the next four years and see where I'm at. Then I'll decide."

Meanwhile, utility man Ryan Flaherty gets back in the Orioles lineup tonight at Fort Myers. He is batting first and playing at second base. Flaherty has been dealing with a sore shoulder, got a cortisone injection and tonight plays for the first time since March 13.

Flaherty said he is fine to return to the lineup.

"Good. Yeah, it feels 100 percent, so excited to play again," he said. "I'm full (go). Whenever he (Showalter) wants to use me. But I feel percent 100 percent. It was good to get a couple of days off."

Flaherty has hit just .120 (3-for-25) in 10 games, with a double, an RBI, four walks and three strikeouts. Does he have some catching up to do in terms of trying to squeeze in some at-bats between now the opener?

"I don't know how that works or how he views it," Flaherty said. "When they tell me to play, I'll play. If they tell me to get extra at-bats, get extra at-bats. Whatever they say to do."