Orioles to bench struggling All-Star Jonathan Schoop
The Baltimore Orioles will give Jonathan Schoop a few days off in an attempt to help him turnaround a disappointing start to the season.
Last year, Schoop put together the best season of his six-year career. He played in 160 games and posted career-highs in nearly every meaningful offensive category. Schoop hit .293 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI. He was also named to his first All-Star team.
2018 has been a struggle for the 26-year-old second baseman. Schoop is hitting just .197 in 61 games this season and was given Saturday off by manager Buck Showalter, who plans to keep Schoop out of lineup for a few more games.
“I’ve thought about it a lot,” Showalter told The Baltimore Sun. “He’s been struggling for quite a while with very few exceptions. Just hasn’t been able to put together that consistency like he did last year.”
Schoop has been a fixture in the Orioles’ lineup since 2016. However, he did spend a considerable amount of time on the bench early in his big league career. He wasn’t a fan of it then and isn’t a fan of it now.
“I sat on the bench my first year I got called up,” Schoop said. “I sat a lot on the bench. I don’t like to be on the bench. I like to be out there playing.” “If I’m not doing good, there’s no day off.”
Baltimore is enduring a torturous season that currently sees them in last place in the American League East. There have been numerous factors contributing to it, including the Schoop’s struggles at the plate. Showalter also sat Chris Davis earlier in the season for a similar issue.
When it rains it pours for the Orioles in 2018.
