During brief Camden Yards visit, Jonathan Schoop said he's ready to return to O's

Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop was at Camden Yards and took the field this afternoon, but he will play in another game tonight at Double-A Bowie and has not yet been activated by the Orioles.

Schoop ran sprints and ran the bases well before batting practice as Orioles vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson looked on, along with manager Buck Showalter, head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel.

Schoop may not be activated before Monday unless he has to replace Adam Jones on the roster. But he made it clear in the clubhouse earlier this afternoon that he feels ready to return to the Orioles.

"I feel good. I feel strong and ready to go," he said. "I'll go back to play at Bowie today and play another game and then me, Brady and Buck are going to sit down to discuss the next step.

"Like I've said I feel stronger than before. At Bowie, I've gotten some tests - groundballs in the hole and to my left side and right side and coming in and I feel really good."

Schoop has been on the disabled list since April 18 with a sprained right knee. He played in games at extended spring training in Florida before joining the Orioles June 15 for workouts, and he started his rehab assignment at Bowie a week ago tonight.

He went 1-for-11 in his first three games with the Baysox but has homered in each of his last three games, going 5-for-11 with two doubles, three homers and six RBIs.

"First few games, I was anxious," Schoop said. "Wanted to do so good and everything was speeding up on me. Then the next few games I calmed down and was myself and finally had some good at-bats."

Bowie's homestand ends tonight, and Schoop - if not activated before Monday - is expected to return to Camden Yards to workout with the Orioles rather than join another minor league affiliate after tonight.

Schoop was asked if it has been hard to be patient as he works his way back to the Orioles.

"We just want to make sure everything is good," he said. "Don't want to come back and hurt it again. I feel good about it and Brady has helped me a lot and I'm thankful for that. The guys here are doing well. Just want to come back and help the team.

"I feel like I am better than before. I feel stronger and faster than before and like I am a better player than before. I'm ready for sure."