masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter expected Jonathan Schoop to arrive in camp at 8 a.m. this morning following the infielder’s stint in the World Baseball Classic. Instead, Schoop arrived in a cab shortly before 7:30 a.m.

Slightly rested, and definitely ready.

Schoop said he slept on the plane – his flight arrived in Orlando early this morning – and could play today if the Orioles want to use him, but Showalter intends to give him the day off.

“I’m ready to go,” he…SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter expected Jonathan Schoop to arrive in camp at 8 a.m. this morning following the infielder’s stint in the World Baseball Classic. Instead, Schoop arrived in a cab shortly before 7:30 a.m.

Slightly rested, and definitely ready.

Schoop said he slept on the plane – his flight arrived in Orlando early this morning – and could play today if the Orioles want to use him, but Showalter intends to give him the day off.

“I’m ready to go,” he said.

Schoop, 21, clearly enjoyed being part of the Netherlands team that reached the semifinals before losing to the Dominican Republic, which defeated Puerto Rico last night to win the championship.

“Very good. I liked it. I had a lot of fun over there. It was a good experience,” he said.

“I was happy. We did a good job. We showed the world that we could play baseball, compete at a high level. I think we did pretty good.”

Schoop hit .214, but he homered twice and drove in six runs.

“I think I grew a lot as a player because a lot of fans were there, a lot of pressure, the excitement from the game,” he said. “More good pitchers. I think it was a good experience for me.”

Schoop acknowledged that he missed “a lot of things,” while being away from camp, but he added, “I think I grew, too, the experience that I got over there. I missed a lot of games and maybe they can’t watch me over here, but it was good.”

Would he do it again?

“We’ll see,” he said.

Schoop said he didn’t feel any pressure, because one of the veterans removed it.

“Andruw Jones, the leader, was like, ‘Keep the pressure on me and play the ball free. Go out there, have fun and play good,’ ” Schoop said. “It was good.”