Orioles call up Jonathan Schoop

The Baltimore Orioles have promoted infield prospect Jonathan Schoop to the big leagues as part of their latest round of September call ups, tweets David Hall of the Virginian Pilot.

Jonathan Schoop, Henry Urrutia, Josh Stinson to join #orioles immediately.

— David Hall (@DavidHallVP) September 2, 2013

Since signing with Baltimore as an amateur free agent out of Curacao in 2008, Schoop has breezed through the minors, hitting at every level he has played at. He has long been thought of as one of the top prospects in the Orioles' system. John Sickels rated him as the 3rd best prospect in the organization, with Baseball Prospectus ranking him 80th on their annual top 101 prospects list, which encompasses all organizations. ESPN's Keith Law ranked him 50th overall.

After playing for the Netherlands national team in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year, Schoop has missed most of the 2013 minor league season with a fractured back, managing to play in only 69 games for Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia.

He has struggled against the advanced pitching of the International League, hitting just .255/.298/.397. However, at 21 years-old, he is among the youngest players in the league.

It is unclear what Schoop's immediate role for the Orioles will be. He is regarded as a long-term second baseman, but has also played 20 games at shortstop this season. With Incumbents Brian Roberts and JJ Hardy manning second and short respectively, it is unlikely Schoop sees significant playing time for the Orioles this month. With Roberts' contract coming off the books this offseason, it is possible that Schoop starts the 2014 season as Baltimore's starting second baseman.

Along with Schoop, the Orioles also called up pitcher Josh Stinson and designated hitter Henry Urrutia on Monday.

Stinson was claimed off waivers by Baltimore on April 4th of this year. He has pitched in 23 big league games with the Mets, Brewers and Orioles over the past 3 seasons. He has started 23 games for the Norfolk Tides this season, recording a 3.78 ERA in 131 innings pitched.

Urrutia has done nothing but hit since signing with the Orioles in 2012 following his defection from Cuba. He is limited to the designated hitter position defensively, but has hit an astounding .352/.411/.513 in 80 games spit between Double and Triple-A this season. He made 21 appearances with the big league club in July and August, hitting .269/.269/.308 in 52 plate appearances before being optioned back to Triple-A on August 17th.