Szczur (bless you) doing his thing for the Cubs

[Grizmayor]

Come across this while digging around my Mets site. Matt Szczur of Villanova is leading off for the upper A club of the Cubs in Florida. Don't think I'd want to be a catcher blocking the plate with this kid barreling down the line...

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=LF&sid=t507&t=p_pbp&pid=519333" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Selected by the Chicago Cubs out of Villanova University in the fifth round of the June 2010 First-Year Player Draft. ... Szczur enjoyed a stellar two-sport career at Villanova University in football and baseball. ... In 2010, he was VU's first .400 hitter since 1997, batting .443 while earning First Team All-Big East honors. ... The .443 mark is the fourth highest single-season batting average in school history, and his .392 career average is fifth-best for the Wildcats. ... Szczur made national news last year when he donated peripheral blood cells to a young leukemia patient who had a 1-in-80,000 change of finding a match. ... The selfless act cost Szczur 10 games during the baseball season due to the medication taken in advance of the surgery and donation. ... On the football field, Szczur led the Wildcats to the 2009 Division I Football Championship Series National Title in 2009 and was named MVP of the Championship game with 270 all-purpose yards and a career-high 159 rushing yards. ... He was the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Year, with 813 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on 108 carries, also catching 51 balls for 610 yards and four TDs. In the Autumn of 2010, the Wildcats lost in the semifinals to Eastern Washington and Matt missed the second half with a concussion. ... In Villanova's quarterfinal win over Appalachian State in 2010, Matt recorded five total touchdowns: three rushing, one receiving and one passing. ... Szczur made his professional baseball debut in 2010 with the Rookie-level Arizona League Cubs, going 1-for-2 with a steal and a run scored in one game before being promoted to Boise. ... In the Class A Short-Season Northwest League, he hit .397 in 18 games with nine doubles, eight RBIs and 17 runs scored. ... Szczur appeared in just six games for the Chiefs last season before returning to Philadelphia for Villanova football practice. ... He delivered a walk-off single to beat Wisconsin on July 29, his second game in a Chiefs uniform. ... He earned varsity letters in football, baseball and track at Lower Cape May Regional High School. Szczur was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 38th round of the June 2007 Draft, but did not sign

 

[GRZFTBL]

Come across this while digging around my Mets site.

How is Nimmo doing? Was lucky to umpire a couple of his games last year. Kid can play.

 

[BDizzle]

I'm not sure if he will ever really be a contributing player on the major league level. But the Cubs could use any help possible right now.

 

[Grizmayor]

Come across this while digging around my Mets site.

How is Nimmo doing? Was lucky to umpire a couple of his games last year. Kid can play.

I don't think the rookie league stuff has started yet... they probably have the same type of schedule as our Pioneer League. I know he was in the spring Mets camp for a look see and got rave reviews. I think he's a natural from everything you see, read and hear. Can't Wait!

 

[putter]

I see Rob Johnson is hitting .333 for the Mets so far. It will be interesting to see if they keep him or Nickeas (who is hitting .163) when Thole comes back. good for Szczur. good person who I hope makes it up to the Bigs.

 

[GRZFTBL]

Come across this while digging around my Mets site.

How is Nimmo doing? Was lucky to umpire a couple of his games last year. Kid can play.

I don't think the rookie league stuff has started yet... they probably have the same type of schedule as our Pioneer League. I know he was in the spring Mets camp for a look see and got rave reviews. I think he's a natural from everything you see, read and hear. Can't Wait!

Yeah I "googled" him. Lots of good stuff on him. I think he'll be at the "A" level thou and not the Rookie League the way in sounds. At any rate, it sounds like he's got a great work ethic and isn't one bit cocky--which I didn't see either.

Hope he makes it to the bigs in a few years and does well. :thumb:

 

[Grizmayor]

I see Rob Johnson is hitting .333 for the Mets so far. It will be interesting to see if they keep him or Nickeas (who is hitting .163) when Thole comes back. good for Szczur. good person who I hope makes it up to the Bigs.

I'm hoping he can keep the bat working well enough to keep him off the farm. He called a great game in Pittsburgh today, and I have a lot more faith in him than I do the other two kids the Mets have behind the plate. He saw Niese was dotting his fastball and cutter warming up, and told him they were going to use them until the Pirates could hit them... hard to do for a pitcher who's 60% curveballs. As it is, Niese throws six benders the WHOLE game and allows one run. This is the smarts the Mets need behind the plate.

 

[putter]

I see Rob Johnson is hitting .333 for the Mets so far. It will be interesting to see if they keep him or Nickeas (who is hitting .163) when Thole comes back. good for Szczur. good person who I hope makes it up to the Bigs.

I'm hoping he can keep the bat working well enough to keep him off the farm. He called a great game in Pittsburgh today, and I have a lot more faith in him than I do the other two kids the Mets have behind the plate. He saw Niese was dotting his fastball and cutter warming up, and told him they were going to use them until the Pirates could hit them... hard to do for a pitcher who's 60% curveballs. As it is, Niese throws six benders the WHOLE game and allows one run. This is the smarts the Mets need behind the plate.

I buy into that 100%. Hopefully the Mets notice that too...