Time is running out for Jonathan Schoop.
The exact timeline is unknown, but at some point, the 31-year-old second baseman won’t be on the Detroit Tigers‘ roster anymore.
It could happen sooner than later.
The 31-year-old, earning $7.5 million in the final year of his contract, transitioned into a platoon role — only playing against left-handed pitchers — for the first time in his career coming out of spring training.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Schoop said. “This game is about adjustments, so I’m making an adjustment. I got to do the things that I know how to do, which is play baseball, and don’t worry about outside things to worry about. I’m going to stay ready, and when my time comes, I’m going to do what I know I can do.”
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Schoop, an 11-year MLB veteran, is hitting .111 (2-for-9) with two walks and six strikeouts in four games this season. He has 10 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers and one plate appearance against right-handers.
He is proud of the two walks.
“I’m going to work more on my plate discipline, and I know I can hit, so nobody can take that away from me,” said Schoop, who has a below-average 4.1% walk rate in his career. “I know I can hit, but I know I got to work on my plate discipline. That’s what I’m working on, and trying to get better at, so I can be a better hitter.”
The other half of the platoon — Zach McKinstry, a left-handed hitting infielder who plays against righty pitchers — has less upside at the plate. The Tigers acquired McKinstry, who doesn’t have any minor-league options, in a trade with the Chicago Cubs a few days before Opening Day.
In 2022, Schoop hit .207 against right-handed pitchers and .186 against lefties. In 2021, he hit .256 against righties and .333 against lefties. He has similar production against righties and lefties throughout his entire career.
“I’ve told Schoop he’s going to start against left-handed pitching,” Hinch said before the second game of the season, “and it’ll be a little more sporadic against right-handed pitching until we settle into the season a little bit. He knew this was coming, coming into today. But he’s doing fine.”
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In another telling development, Schoop has moved away from an everyday role at second base. His range at his natural position is an eyesore without the shift. His feet looked weighed down by cinder blocks on Opening Day as two balls shot through the middle of the infield.
Since then, he has played more third base.
Ryan Kreidler, a right-handed hitter, and McKinstry have been the primary second basemen, while Schoop and Nick Maton, a left-handed hitter, have been the primary third basemen. Both Maton and Kreidler can play second base and third base, so the Tigers aren’t married to specific positions.
“He’s an elite defender,” Hinch said of Kreidler. “I’ve used the word ‘impact’ before for a reason. Those plays are natural for him. His near-misses make you wonder how big his range can be.”
Two potential replacements for Schoop are waiting in Triple-A Toledo.
Tyler Nevin, a right-handed hitter who missed time in spring training with an oblique strain, was reinstated from the injured list Friday and optioned to Toledo. The 25-year-old is hitting .611 (11-for-18) with one home run, zero walks and one strikeout across five games for the Mud Hens.
Nevin plays third base, first base and left field.
Andy Ibañez, a right-handed hitter who has been playing second base and first base, is stationed in Triple-A Toledo, as well, but unlike Nevin, he isn’t a member of the 40-man roster. The 30-year-old is hitting .294 (5-for-17) with two homers, four walks and six strikeouts in six games.
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If the Tigers cut Schoop, they could roll out a platoon of Maton (vs. right-handers) and Nevin/Ibañez (vs. left-handers) at third base and a platoon of McKinstry (vs. righties) and Kreidler (vs. lefties) at second base.
In 2022, Schoop hit .202 with 11 home runs, 19 walks and 107 strikeouts in 131 games. He had a .267 batting average with one homer, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 10 games in spring training.
Two years ago, Schoop profiled as a reliable power hitter and an above-average second baseman. Those characteristics led to a two-year, $15 million contract extension, but those characteristics have since vanished.
His playing time has basically vanished, too.
“I’ll play first base, second base, shortstop, third base, whatever,” Schoop said. “I just like to see my name in the lineup. I’m going to stay ready, and when my time comes, I’m trying to do my best, and hopefully, I can get more hits.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.