Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop could have been activated today if there was an urgent need, according to manager Buck Showalter, but he's scheduled to play at Bowie tonight before a decision is made on when he will rejoin the major league roster.
Schoop also said he is ready to go, though he'll meet with Showalter and Orioles vice president Brady Anderson to discuss his schedule after tonight's minor league appearance. It appears he'll be activated in the next few days, though he may present a difficult roster decision.
The Orioles still have not announced the move to make room for pitcher Wei-Yin Chen, who is scheduled to pitch tonight. The decision could wait almost until game time because of the uncertain weather conditions the next two days.
"I feel good. ... I feel pretty strong. ... I'm ready to go," Schoop said. "I feel stronger than before. Down there in Bowie, I got grounds balls in the hole - left side, right side, coming in - and I feel really good."
Schoop said he knows that the team wants to be as careful as possible with him. He injured the PCL in his right knee on April 17 and has been rehabilitating ever since. He did not require surgery and Showalter said the club wants to make sure nothing happens to change that, since the outlook for athletes undergoing a PCL repair is not particularly good.
The Orioles have been on a roll for much of June and Schoop is eager to join the fun.
"All the guys are doing good," he said, "so it'll be good to come back and help the team win."