FREDERICK, Md. - Jonathan Schoop, the 19-year-old infielder from Curacao, was playing to rave reviews earlier this season when he was with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds.
That hasn't changed in the short time he has been here with the Single-A Frederick Keys, even though he has played in just six Frederick games.
Schoop is batting .324 between both teams, the second-best batting average this year in the O's minors behind Kipp Schutz at .343. Schoop is tied for third in the organization with eight homers and third with 38 RBIs.
I asked former Oriole Mike Devereaux, a Keys coach, about Schoop.
"I am very, very impressed with Jonathan. He is very coachable and wants to learn the game. He has skills that are very consistent with playing a long time in the game," Devereaux said.
"He hits to all fields and he's young and still growing. Everyone is going to remember his game."
I asked Devereaux what he feels is the best part of Schoop's game on offense right now.
"Hitting to all fields and understanding that is what he needs to do. He hit two balls yesterday that any other day would have been out of this park. I saw balls come off his bat in Potomac that were screaming line drives with good backspin," he said.
"He can get fooled on a pitch and come right back and learn from that. I'm excited to be coaching him, he's one of those type of players."
Schoop hit .316-8-34 in 51 Delmarva games and is batting .385 so far (10-for-26) in six Keys games with two doubles and four RBIs.
Check back tonight for updates from tonight's Lynchburg-Keys game.
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