masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNORFOLK, Va. – Jonathan Schoop has made the Orioles’ opening day roster and will likely be in the starting lineup Monday against Boston.

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that after today’s game. It was pretty obvious, but Showalter told reporters that Schoop, Evan Meek, Steve Pearce and Delmon Young had claimed roster spots.

The Orioles optioned Kevin Gausman, T.J. McFarland and Jemile Weeks to Triple-A after the game, getting the roster down to 32 players. Tomorrow they are expected to…NORFOLK, Va. – Jonathan Schoop has made the Orioles’ opening day roster and will likely be in the starting lineup Monday against Boston.

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that after today’s game. It was pretty obvious, but Showalter told reporters that Schoop, Evan Meek, Steve Pearce and Delmon Young had claimed roster spots.

The Orioles optioned Kevin Gausman, T.J. McFarland and Jemile Weeks to Triple-A after the game, getting the roster down to 32 players. Tomorrow they are expected to disable six players and Troy Patton will miss the first 25 games on suspension as they get down to the 25-man limit. Headed to the big league disabled list will be Nolan Reimold, Francisco Peguero, Edgmer Escalona, Micheal Almanzar and Manny Machado. Johan Santana will come off the spring big league camp roster and will likely go on the minor league DL.

“Excited,” the 22-year-old Schoop said of today’s news. “This is my first time making the 25-man roster and I worked hard for this. Now keep going, not done yet.”

Schoop hit .385 (15-for-39) this spring with five doubles, two homers and eight RBIs. Schoop is expected to hit low in the order. He may be held to just one position and not move between second and third base.

Schoop has been thinking about this day since last season ended.

“After the season was over, I went home and said, ‘I want to keep going. I want to play in the major leagues,’ ” Schoop said. “I got a taste last year and I never want to go back. That was my mentality. I went home, worked hard and came back a better player.

“I tried not to think too much about it (the past few days). I tried to keep calm and do my job, get my work in. But It was emotional. I dreamed about this moment.”

While it seems like he will play every day for the club to start the year, Showalter would not commit to that immediately after today’s game.

“He made our club and we think he can make contributions,” Showalter said. “I know what our lineup is opening day against (Jon) Lester and I know what it is the day after that against (John) Lackey. We’re going to make use of all our players and create ways for every one to be in the flow. We’ll see if the way we end using Jonathan is best for our club No. 1 and No. 2 for Jonathan. Hopefully we can match those two things.

“He had a good spring. I’d like to think it would not necessarily be a different scenario if Manny (Machado) were here or not. We’ll see when Manny gets back where we are with everything.”