Jonathan Schoop (finger) is not in Thursday's lineup against the Royals. Schoop suffered a split fingernail on Wednesday and has his right index finger wrapped. While he's not starting Thursday, he has no problems swinging the bat and expects to be available off the bench.

Jonathan Schoop went 1-for-4 with a solo home run as the Orioles defeated the Blue Jays on Thursday. Schoop's second homer of the season was a solo shot off of Drew Hutchison in the fifth inning. The 22-year-old has looked overmatched in the early going, but his two-hit game on Wednesday and his homer on Thursday could be signs that he's starting to figure it out.

Jonathan Schoop was 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox. The four hits were a career-high and included a pair of RBI doubles. The big night pulled his batting average up from .244 to .304. The 22-year-old has swung the bat better in recent days, so he's making a case to stick around even after Manny Machado (knee) comes off the disabled list.

Jonathan Schoop went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer Wednesday as the Orioles topped the Yankees 5-4. Schoop's blast to left field accounted for all of the damage in seven innings against Masahiro Tanaka. He also had a single as part of the two-run ninth-inning rally that put the Orioles back ahead. The homer was Schoop's first of this year and second in 44 major league at-bats. We're not impressed with his 11/0 K/BB ratio in 30 at-bats this season, but the power is legit and he's made some nice plays. There's a chance he'll stick around after Manny Machado returns.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that Jonathan Schoop will make the Orioles' Opening Day roster. The plan is for Schoop to share time at second base with Steve Lombardozzi and at third base with Ryan Flaherty until Manny Machado (knee) returns. He wouldn't be guaranteed a job once Machado is ready, but the top prospect could play his way into a regular role over the long haul. Schoop is a nice late-round option in fantasy leagues.

Jonathan Schoop and Ryan Flaherty both hit homers against the Pirates in Sunday's tie. Flaherty's was probably a little move impressive, coming off Gerrit Cole. Schoop hit his in the ninth off Jay Jackson. The Orioles could start both players on Opening Day, with Schoop playing second and Flaherty at third. Schoop wouldn't necessarily be guaranteed anything after Manny Machado returns, but his stock has been climbing.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that Jonathan Schoop "seems to be winning" the Orioles' second base competition over Jemile Weeks. Ryan Flaherty will handle second base when Manny Machado (knee) is ready, but he'll slide over the third base with Machado likely headed for the DL to start the season. One of the Orioles' top prospects, Schoop has crushed Grapefruit League pitching to the tune of a .423/.448/.692 batting line with four doubles and a homer. The 22-year-old needs to be owned in deeper fantasy leagues.

Jonathan Schoop has turned heads with a 9-for-17 (.529) start in Grapefruit League play and is considered a live 'dog in Baltimore's open second base competition. Included in the tally above is four extra-base hits and five RBIs. It's the type of performance the 22-year-old needed in an attempt to leapfrog Ryan Flaherty and Jemile Weeks for the second-base gig, which his skipper acknowledged when asked if Schoop's performance would make his Opening Day lineup decision more difficult. "Might be continuing to make an easy decision," said Buck Showalter, who reminded assembled media that all three still have options remaining. "There's a lot of ways to look at that. I told you before, we came in here with that completely wide open there. Still is."

Jonathan Schoop homered in his lone at-bat off the bench against the Phillies on Friday. Schoop is 5-for-9 with a couple of doubles this spring. It's going to be tough for him to maintain his 1.000 BABIP going forward (he's struck out in his other four at-bats), but he's making an early change for the starting job at second base.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Monday that Jonathan Schoop is "very much in the mix" for the starting second baseman job. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said over the winter that Schoop was likely to spend more time in the minors, but Showalter said nothing is set in stone in regard to his role. Ryan Flaherty should still be considered the front-runner, but Schoop could change that with a big spring.