Schoop, Gomez to be Honored by Orioles
September 26, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release
Frederick, MD - 2011 Frederick Keys 2B Jonathan Schoop and Keys Manager Orlando Gomez will be recognized tonight by the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. 2009 Frederick Key, RHP Tim Bascom will be honored as well. The Orioles will take on the Boston Red Sox at 7:05 p.m. this evening.
Schoop has earned the Brooks Robinson Prize as the organization's most outstanding position player. Gomez was named the recipient of the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award while Bascom won the Jim Palmer Prize as the organization's Pitcher of the Year.
Signed by the Baltimore Orioles on August 20, 2008, as a non-drafted free agent, Schoop hit .290 with 13 home runs, 24 doubles, five triples, and 71 RBIs in 128 games between the Keys and Class-A Delmarva this season. His .290 batting average was third-best among Orioles' farmhands this season while his 71 runs batted in were tied for the second-most in the Orioles' minor league system. The Willemstad, Curacao native started the season with the Delmarva Shorebirds in the South Atlantic League. On June 5th, Schoop was promoted to Frederick where he finished out the remainder of the 2011 season. While with the Keys, the Orioles' tenth-best prospect according to Baseball America helped guide Frederick to its best record in franchise history (80-59). Additionally, Schoop was an integral part to the Keys' postseason success. In Frederick's march to its fourth Mills Cup in franchise history and third since 2005, Schoop hit .314 (11-for-35) with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs.
During the 2011 season, Schoop was selected to play for Team World in the XM Future's Game on July 10th at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Schoop and SS Manny Machado were the first Frederick Keys' to participate in the event since Jake Arrieta in 2008.
As the Brooks Robinson Prize winner, Schoop is the ninth Frederick Key to earn the award in a season which he played for the Keys. He is also the fourth player to receive the honor in as many years (Joe Mahoney, 2010, Brandon Waring, 2009 & Matt Wieters, 2008). Four of the eight prior recipients have become big leaguers including David Segui (1989), Nick Markakis (2005), and Wieters (2008).
In his second season as manager of the Keys, Orlando Gomez was named the winner of the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award. This honor is presented to a minor league staff member who exemplifies the qualities of the late Oriole who is regarded as the architect of "The Oriole Way." In two years as the skipper in Frederick, the Juan Diaz, Puerto Rico native has guided the Keys to the postseason both years and compiled a record of 152-127 (.545). On August 22, 2011, Gomez won his 146th game as manager of the Keys and surpassed Bien Figueroa (2005-2006) as the winningest manager in franchise history.
2011 was Gomez's seventh season in the Orioles organization and 48th year in professional baseball. In his playing days, Gomez played 13 minor league seasons in the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics organizations. He gained his first managerial job in 1977 as the skipper of Medicine Hat in the Pioneer League. As a coach, Gomez reached the big leagues in 1991 as the bullpen coach of the Texas Rangers. He remained in the Major Leagues for the 1992 season as the first base coach of the Rangers. Gomez returned the big leagues as a bullpen coach with Tampa Bay (1998-2000) and Seattle (2003-04).
In 17 seasons as a manager, Gomez has an overall record of 935-1018. In 1989, he was named South Atlantic League Manager of the Year after he guided the Gastonia Rangers, who featured a 17-year-old catcher named Ivan Rodriguez, to a 92-48 record.
Tim Bascom will receive the Jim Palmer Prize as the most outstanding pitcher in the Orioles farm system. In a spot start for the Keys on May 5th this year, Bascom struck out seven over six shutout innings. The Orlando, Florida native picked up the victory in the Keys 5-2 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Overall in 2011, Bascom posted a 10-4 record with an ERA of 2.97 between Frederick and Double-A Bowie. His 2.97 ERA was tops among Orioles full-season farmhands.
Drafted by the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2007 Major League Draft, Bascom went 4-5 with a 3.40 ERA in 12 appearances, 11 starts, for the Keys in 2009.
Carolina League Stories from September 26, 2011
- 2011 Hillcats Nominated for MiLBy Awards - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Simmons Nominated for Milby Award - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Schoop, Gomez to be Honored by Orioles - Frederick Keys
- K-Tribe up for Two "MiLBY Awards" - Kinston Indians
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