Detroit Tigers: Time to pay attention to Jonathan Schoop
It is easy to overlook Jonathan Schoop. The Detroit Tigers second baseman is not someone who comes up in conversation, overlooked because of the team that he plays on and a decent, but somewhat anonymous, career. While he was an All Star in 2017, and has four seasons with over 20 homers, Schoop is still a relatively anonymous player.
But that may be changing this season. Schoop has been on fire over the past month, and has actually been the hottest hitter in the majors. With every team getting an All Star representative, Schoop may be on his way to his second appearance.
Detroit Tigers second baseman Jonathan Schoop deserves attention
Schoop has turned his season around in a truly impressive manner. Over the Tigers’ first 45 games, he had produced a disappointing .210/.254/.299 batting line in his 169 plate appearances, hitting three doubles and three homers. For a team that was not going anywhere and may have been hoping to flip him at the deadline for prospects, that production was a disappointment.
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However, he has been much better over the past month. Since May 23, Schoop has put together an incredible .374/.435/.746 batting line. He leads the American League in batting average, hits (42), and homers (12) in that time. Suddenly, Schoop has a career best 125 OPS+ over the season, that slow start a distant memory.
This stretch also puts the Tigers in an interesting position. Schoop is signed to a one year deal and was presumably brought in as a potential trade chip. His hot streak may not last until the trade deadline, but he may well bring back a better prospect than anyone would have imagined.
Schoop could also be an intriguing candidate for an extension. Although he is in his ninth season in the majors, he is just 29 years old this season. As he is in the middle of his prime, and the Tigers have several intriguing offensive prospects close to the majors, he could be worth holding on to for a few more seasons.
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Jonathan Schoop has been the hottest hitter in baseball over the past month. It is time to start paying attention to the Detroit Tigers’ second baseman.