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Szczur signs with Cubs
The baseball or football speculation is over for Villanova's Matt Szczur. The 2010 Daily Times Sports Figure of the Year has decided to stick with baseball,
Szczur reportedly signed a $1.5 million deal to return to the Chicago Cubs Tuesday.
The two-sport standout was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, but the deal he received from the Cubs is equal to late first-round money in the NFL.
That was an offer he could not refuse.
Szczur originally signed a $600,000 deal after the Cubs selected him in the fifth round of the first-year player draft last June. He received $100,000 up front and the Cubs agreed to let the South Jersey native return to Villanova for his senior football season, with one proviso. He had to let the Cubs by Feb. 10 that he would be reporting to spring training or he would forfeit the remainder of the signing bonus.
Szczur was scheduled to play in the Senior Bowl Jan. 29 in Mobile, Ala., but he is expected to pull out of the game.
The 21-year-old outfielder played in 25 minor league games last summer with the Cubs in the Arizona Rookie League and with the Class A Boise Hawks in the Northwest League and Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League. He batted .347 with a .414 on base percentage and a .465 slugging percentage, and had 10 doubles, one triple, two RBIs and two stolen bases. He started his professional career with a 21-game hitting streak.
Szczur's senior season at Villanova was marred by a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss six games. However, he returned in time to help lead the Wildcats to the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs.
He was at his best in Villanova's 42-24 rout of No. 1 seed Appalachian State in the quarterfinals. Szczur scored a career-high four touchdowns and threw for another score.
As a junior, Szczur was named the Most Outstanding Player of the FCS championship game after leading Villanova to a 23-21 victory over Montana. Szczur ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns and amassed 270 all-purpose yards in the championship game.
Szczur accumulated 4.345 all-purpose yards in his football career. He ran for 1,435 yards and 13 touchdowns, had 1,245 yards and eight TDs as a receiver, 1,457 yards in kickoff returns with two touchdowns and completed 5 of 6 passes for 35 yards and three scores.
He was a consensus All-American in football and earned All-Big East honors in baseball.
Szczur reportedly signed a $1.5 million deal to return to the Chicago Cubs Tuesday.
The two-sport standout was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, but the deal he received from the Cubs is equal to late first-round money in the NFL.
That was an offer he could not refuse.
Szczur originally signed a $600,000 deal after the Cubs selected him in the fifth round of the first-year player draft last June. He received $100,000 up front and the Cubs agreed to let the South Jersey native return to Villanova for his senior football season, with one proviso. He had to let the Cubs by Feb. 10 that he would be reporting to spring training or he would forfeit the remainder of the signing bonus.
Szczur was scheduled to play in the Senior Bowl Jan. 29 in Mobile, Ala., but he is expected to pull out of the game.
The 21-year-old outfielder played in 25 minor league games last summer with the Cubs in the Arizona Rookie League and with the Class A Boise Hawks in the Northwest League and Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League. He batted .347 with a .414 on base percentage and a .465 slugging percentage, and had 10 doubles, one triple, two RBIs and two stolen bases. He started his professional career with a 21-game hitting streak.
Szczur's senior season at Villanova was marred by a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss six games. However, he returned in time to help lead the Wildcats to the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs.
He was at his best in Villanova's 42-24 rout of No. 1 seed Appalachian State in the quarterfinals. Szczur scored a career-high four touchdowns and threw for another score.
As a junior, Szczur was named the Most Outstanding Player of the FCS championship game after leading Villanova to a 23-21 victory over Montana. Szczur ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns and amassed 270 all-purpose yards in the championship game.
Szczur accumulated 4.345 all-purpose yards in his football career. He ran for 1,435 yards and 13 touchdowns, had 1,245 yards and eight TDs as a receiver, 1,457 yards in kickoff returns with two touchdowns and completed 5 of 6 passes for 35 yards and three scores.
He was a consensus All-American in football and earned All-Big East honors in baseball.
posted by Terry Toohey at
7:20 PM
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