Jonathan Schoop selected to first All-Star team

Jonathan Schoop saw his infield coach in the parking lot this morning and became suspicious. Why was Bobby Dickerson arriving at this time? Why did Schoop need to stop inside manager Buck Showalter's office, per Dickerson's instructions, as if he were about to be reprimanded?

This is how Schoop found out that he was chosen to his first All-Star Game, the only Orioles representative unless they have someone included in the fan's Final Vote.

Schoop, 25, will be a reserve on the American League team. He is now batting .293/.348/.538 with 23 doubles, 16 home runs and 51 RBIs in 79 games. He's also drawn 18 walks, three fewer than his 2016 total.

The on-base percentage, tied with Trey Mancini for the team lead, is a pronounced improvement over his .298 mark last season. He leads the club in doubles and RBIs, and is tied for the lead in home runs with Manny Machado, who hit his 16th homer today against the Rays.

A crowd at second base had room for one more.

"I got in and see Bobby D. was coming in. 'What is Bobby doing here?' " Schoop said. "I know Bobby since I was 16, so we started walkin, and I said, 'Bobby, what are you doing here?' He said, 'I just want to talk to you.' I told him, "Did I do something wrong?' He said, 'No, no, no.' Then he starts to say, 'I'll miss you. Don't forget about me if you go somewhere.' Like I got traded or something.

"Then he said, 'Buck wanted to talk to you.' In the principal's office. Did I do something wrong? Then he takes me in there, and then Buck and all the coaches come in, and then Buck told Bobby to tell me. Bobby said, 'You tell him.' Then Buck told me and Bobby D. starts crying.

"He's an emotional guy. He knows me since I was 16. I think he's more happy for me than (I am) that I made it. The coaches are all telling me. They gave me a big hug. All the coaches, I've got to thank them all. They all get me better every day. They all work hard trying to make us better."

Said Dickerson: "It was pretty cool because I go back with him all the way when I got hired in 2010, the first time I met him was down in the Dominican Academy. Just a little skinny kid. He wasn't even thought of as one of our big prospects. He was always second, third, fourth guy on the club. If you go all the way to Curacao, he was always behind (Jurickson) Profar, and then coming up with Manny, obviously, all the attention was on Manny.

"It was just really an awesome thing for me, just knowing what he has been through."

Schoop said the news made him nervous. For once, he didn't feel in total control of a situation.

"My head started spinning," he said. "I'm was so happy, excited and I work hard, for me, for myself and to make my team better. It means a lot for me and for my family.

"I'm happy right now. When Cleveland was in town, (Jason) Kipnis told me, 'Hey, we've got a lot of good second basemen. I thought you got two All-Stars already, but there's a lot of good names.' And, you know, all those guys who's good. Even look up to (Robinson) Canó, you know? Those guys. I'm so happy right now. Excited and happy."

Schoop wouldn't allow himself to get his hopes up with the pending announcement. His numbers warranted inclusion, but he didn't make any assumptions.

"To be honest, just go out there and play," he said. "Just play and try to do everything to win. And that's a personal goal. Sometimes, you want to achieve some goals, you know, and make the All-Star team and do other things, but I wasn't worried too much about it. You've got some friends and family, 'Hey, you've got a chance to make the All-Star,' but I didn't put too much attention on it and just come ready and work and try to win. And whatever happens ...

"Right now, I'm so excited and happy and humble."

The All-Star Game will be played July 11 at Marlins Park in Miami, following a road trip that takes the Orioles to Milwaukee for three games and Minnesota for four.

"Right now, I don't expect nothing because I'm just mind (blown) right now," Schoop said. "I'm excited, happy. My head is spinning everywhere right now. I'll just go in there and try to enjoy it. But the next seven days we have right now, I'm trying to think of here first and win some games here and then the four days or whatever I'm trying to have fun over there and then come back second half, work harder and trying to win to achieve all of our goal of going to the playoffs."

The news of his inclusion in the All-Star Game carried Schoop back to the 2015 season, when he suffered a knee injury that cost him almost three months. It's easier to appreciate the moment when you've had to overcome adversity.

"I lose words, I'm so happy," he said. "In 2015, I got hurt and they told me I had to be out two months. All I know since I was a kid was playing baseball. It was tough times for me to go through all this and now I'm an All-Star. I'm so excited. I can't use the words. I'm happy right now."

Schoop will be playing in close friend Machado's hometown.

"I'm going to stay in his house," Schoop said. "I'm going to go stay in there with him. I might tell him to come with me. Me and him are like really good friends. I want to bring my family to stay in his house.

"Me and him are brothers. He's happy for me that I made it. For sure, he's going to talk to me right now and help me, because he knows I'm nervous right now. He will tell me what to expect and what to do over there and how to carry myself over there."

The Orioles have taken multiple players to the All-Star team for the past five seasons. Catcher Matt Wieters was their last lone representative in 2011.

Wieters made it four times with the Orioles. Schoop gets to be the newbie this year.

"I am beyond excited," Machado said. "I know how much he's worked to get here and know what all the struggles he's been through to get just to the big leagues. Now to have the opportunity to represent his country, represent his team and himself in the All-Star Game, I mean, it's unbelievable. I couldn't be more excited he will participate and enjoy it. Words can't describe how much I am happy for him. I'm rooting for him."

Machado will be happy to have Schoop as a houseguest, if it actually comes to fruition.

"He always says the same thing and ends up not coming," Machado said, laughing.

"He's open to it. We're family and he's like a brother to me. We've dealt with a lot of things in the minors and in the big leageus, as well. Ups and downs. To finally see what he is turning into as player, it is unbelievable to watch. As a hitter, as a second baseman. Just his overall play. He's taking walks when he needs to take walks. His game has gone to another level, and finally other teams, players and coaches are finally seeing it. Giving him a chance to represent this organization and himself in a good way."