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Baltimore Orioles: The 5 best second basemen in Orioles history

By Tim Smart

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 16: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs during the seventh inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 16, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 16: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs during the seventh inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 16, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Orioles, Jonathan Schoop
TORONTO, ON – JULY 20: Jonathan Schoop #6 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a solo home run to tie the game in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 20, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

No. 5 – Jonathan Schoop

The Orioles signed Jonathan Schoop, a 17-year-old out of Curacao, in 2009. Schoop spent five years in the minors before making his debut in Baltimore in September of 2013.

In four and a half seasons with the Orioles, Schoop hit .261/.296/.450 with 106 homers, 312 RBI, and a 101 OPS+. Schoop was never a Gold Glove caliber defender, and he never will be; he made his way to the majors with the bat.

Schoop’s 106 home-runs in an Orioles uniform ties him with Gary Roenicke for 27th in franchise history. He hit 32 in 2017, which could end up being his peak season.

In the Orioles’ dismal ’17 season, Schoop was one of the only Orioles players worth watching. He was the Orioles’ lone all-star, hitting .293/.338/.503 with 105 RBI and a 124 OPS+. He received down-ballot MVP votes that year, finishing 12th in the AL race.

Schoop had plenty of other moments though. For whatever reason, I remember this game against the Nats in 2015. Late night at work, get home and watch the O’s come from behind and win on a Schoop walk-off. I’m still not sure how that ball got over the fence.

Schoop was never the best player on the Orioles roster when he played in Baltimore, but he was an effective second baseman over the past five years. His time with the Orioles came to an end in 2018 when Dan Duquette traded him to Milwaukee at the deadline.

Schoop hit well for the O’s this past year, posting 1.3 bWAR in 85 games before the trade. However, he was awful in Milwaukee, hitting his way to a .577 OPS in 46 games. He signed a one-year deal with the Twins this offseason worth $7.5 million.

Schoop won’t be remembered as one of the greatest second basemen of all-time, but fans in Baltimore appreciate the work he put in, and the talent he brought to the table.

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