Jonathan Schoop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jonathan Schoop |
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Schoop with the Detroit Tigers in 2022
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| Algodoneros de Unión Laguna – No. 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Second baseman | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: October 16, 1991 Willemstad, Curaçao |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||||||||
| September 25, 2013, for the Baltimore Orioles | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) |
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| Batting average | .254 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hits | 1,095 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 174 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 544 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Jonathan Rufino Jezus Schoop (born October 16, 1991) is a professional baseball player from Curaçao. He plays as a second baseman for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna in the Mexican League. Before this, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers. He was chosen as an All-Star player in 2017.
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Jonathan Schoop's Baseball Journey
Jonathan Schoop started playing baseball at a young age. He even played in the Little League World Series twice, in 2003 and 2004, representing Curaçao. In 2004, his team won the tournament! He was considered one of the best players on that winning team.
Starting His Professional Career
Schoop signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2008. This was his first step into professional baseball. In 2011, he was chosen to play in the All-Star Futures Game, which features top young players. That same year, he won an award for being the best player in the Orioles' minor league system. When he first started, he mostly played shortstop, but by 2011, he began playing second baseman more often.
Before the 2012 season, experts thought Schoop was one of the best young players in baseball. He was ranked as a top prospect for the Orioles and among the best overall young talents.
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles
Making His MLB Debut
In 2013, after playing many games in the minor leagues, Schoop was called up to the Baltimore Orioles. In his very first game on September 25, he got a hit. A little later in that same game, he hit his first career home run! He had a great first game, getting two hits, including that home run.
In 2014, Schoop became the Orioles' main second baseman. He hit his second career home run that year, helping his team win a close game. He finished the 2014 season with 16 home runs. The Orioles won their division championship for the first time in many years. Schoop played well in the first round of the playoffs, but the Orioles were later swept by the Kansas City Royals.
Key Moments with the Orioles
On April 11, 2015, Schoop hit his first career grand slam, which means he hit a home run with the bases loaded, scoring four runs. Soon after, he got injured and had to miss some games. He returned in July and finished the 2015 season with 15 home runs.
The 2016 season was a strong one for Schoop. He hit his second grand slam in May. In August, he hit a game-winning home run that helped the Orioles come back from a big deficit. He hit his 20th home run that season, which was a first for him. He ended 2016 with 25 home runs and played in all 162 regular season games.
Becoming an All-Star Player
Schoop had his best hitting season in 2017. He was playing so well that he was chosen to be an All-Star! In the All-Star Game, he got a double and scored a run. He finished the 2017 season with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs, which were career highs for him. He was even considered for the American League MVP award.
In 2018, Schoop started the season with an injury. After the All-Star break, he started hitting home runs in many games in a row, tying an MLB record for second basemen.
Moving to Other Teams
Milwaukee Brewers
On July 31, 2018, Schoop was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He had a tough time hitting with the Brewers and didn't get any hits in the playoffs. After the season, he became a free agent.
Minnesota Twins
In December 2018, Schoop signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. He started hitting better with the Twins. In 2019, he hit 20 and then 21 home runs in August, joining a special group of Twins players who hit many home runs in one season. He finished his time with the Twins batting .256 with 23 home runs.
Detroit Tigers
Schoop signed with the Detroit Tigers in December 2019. He was their starting second baseman in 2020, but his season ended early due to a wrist injury. He still hit 8 home runs in 44 games.
In 2021, Schoop re-signed with the Tigers. He played more games at first base that year, but still hit well. In August 2021, he signed a new two-year contract with the Tigers. He finished the 2021 season with 22 home runs and led the team with 84 RBIs.
In 2022, Schoop mostly played second base again. On May 30, he got his 1,000th career hit, which was a double. He was only the third player from Curaçao to reach 1,000 hits in the major leagues. However, his hitting in 2022 was not as strong as in previous years. Even though his hitting struggled, he was still a great defensive player and was nominated for a Gold Glove Award.
Schoop's hitting continued to be a challenge in 2023. He played 55 games for the Tigers but did not hit any home runs. The Tigers released him in July 2023.
Playing in the Mexican League
On April 3, 2024, Schoop signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna in the Mexican League. He played 81 games for them, hitting 15 home runs and driving in 60 runs. His team lost in the playoffs, but Schoop hit a home run in their final game. He signed to play with Laguna again for the 2025 season.
International Baseball for Jonathan Schoop
Jonathan Schoop has proudly represented the Netherlands national baseball team in many international tournaments. He played in the Baseball World Cup in 2011, the European Baseball Championship in 2012, and the World Baseball Classic in 2013, 2017, and 2023. He also played in the 2024 Premier12 tournament.
In January 2024, Schoop was part of the Willemstad Cannons team that represented Curaçao in the Intercontinental Series. He was also named to the Curaçao Suns team for the 2024 Caribbean Series.
Jonathan Schoop's Family Life
Jonathan Schoop's brother, Sharlon Schoop, is also a professional baseball player.
