Jonathan Schoop on his return to the Orioles

The Orioles will happily welcome back one of their key players tonight. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop returns to the lineup, batting fourth at second base against Kansas City. Yep, he goes right into the cleanup spot.

Schoop has been out since he got injured April 13 at Boston. He suffered a right oblique strain and the Orioles went 3-17 without him. He played in rehab games since Friday at Double-A Bowie, Triple-A Norfolk and Single-A Frederick, going 2-for-13.

"I'm real excited. Excited to be here," said Schoop, who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs at Frederick last night. "Excited to go out there again, compete and try to win. I am 100 percent ready. That is why I went on the rehab assignment. Get my swing down there and get some defense in."

There were a few mental hurdles to cross as well. And physical ones, like being able to swing and miss with some force and not feel anything.

"Yes. The first two days when I threw the ball and swung, it was a little bit in my head. The more I played it went away and now I'm 100 percent back. It's time to play and compete.

"That is why I tested it (by swinging hard). There were a few times I missed the ball and it didn't hurt. I swung and missed a lot of times and I didn't feel it. I hope I can come back out and put the ball in play and help the team win. I got my at-bats. I wasn't focused on the results, I was focused on how I feel and I feel good. I'm ready to go."

The Orioles were not exactly winning big when Schoop was last in the lineup, but they've played .150 ball without him.

"It's tough. I know they want to do good and win," he noted. "I hope we can start a winning streak today. I hope we can turn it around today."

Schoop is batting .230/.266/.344 with four doubles, a homer and three RBIs in 14 games. In the two games before he got hurt his swing seemed to be coming around as he went 4-for-8 with a double and two RBIs.

Tonight, he has to guard against trying to be the one guy that can help turn around an entire team.

"Of course," he said. "But everybody told me, 'Don't come in here and try to be the hero. Just play the way you normally play and have fun.' We all have to work together to be good."