Szczur picked in Round 5 of MLB Draft

[Fact]

What people don't realize is that he still has two years of baseball eligibility left. He can play football this season and either concentrate 100 percent on baseball after that or put all of his chips on the NFL draft. Even if he does get injured playing football, he'll still have a full year to rehab and play his redshirt senior baseball season. I think football is his best avenue.

[mcveyrl]

What people don't realize is that he still has two years of baseball eligibility left. He can play football this season and either concentrate 100 percent on baseball after that or put all of his chips on the NFL draft. Even if he does get injured playing football, he'll still have a full year to rehab and play his redshirt senior baseball season. I think football is his best avenue.

But, if he gets injured, draft stock drops (both MLB and NFL); if he doesn't have a year of eligibility left, draft value drops (MLB). A 5th round pick is going to get some good opportunities within an organization. He has everything to lose and nothing to gain (in terms of pro prospects) by sticking around.

Again, he might stick around to try and win a second NC or to try and play in the NFL, but he surely understands this is as good as it will probably get for him on the baseball side.

[mcveyrl]

I think Scissors will decide well before then out of respect for the 'Nova football program. And, one of the things you'll lose if you stick around for your senior year is the leverage of going back. As danefan pointed out, there's almost no way he goes over slot if he stays for his senior year -- and runs the risk of injury. If you're thinking with your brain, you gotta sign. If he goes with his heart, who knows? I'm sure he'd like back to back titles.

Agreed with all but the last sentence. **** him on that one.

Greedy sumuma bitch!

[GannonFan]

What people don't realize is that he still has two years of baseball eligibility left. He can play football this season and either concentrate 100 percent on baseball after that or put all of his chips on the NFL draft. Even if he does get injured playing football, he'll still have a full year to rehab and play his redshirt senior baseball season. I think football is his best avenue.

Well, like others have said, if he passes on baseball for now and waits until after his senior year, in all likliehood he ends up with much less money. He's got zero leverage at that point as he doesn't have college to fall back on. Can he do that? Sure, but he'd be losing something. And let's be honest here, he is not very likely to be drafted for the NFL, and even if he is, he's a 6th or 7th rounder at best, which is a crap shoot at best to even make a roster. Baseball is by far the more surer route to have a shot at making it.

[wideright82]

What people don't realize is that he still has two years of baseball eligibility left. He can play football this season and either concentrate 100 percent on baseball after that or put all of his chips on the NFL draft. Even if he does get injured playing football, he'll still have a full year to rehab and play his redshirt senior baseball season. I think football is his best avenue.

Well, like others have said, if he passes on baseball for now and waits until after his senior year, in all likliehood he ends up with much less money. He's got zero leverage at that point as he doesn't have college to fall back on. Can he do that? Sure, but he'd be losing something. And let's be honest here, he is not very likely to be drafted for the NFL, and even if he is, he's a 6th or 7th rounder at best, which is a crap shoot at best to even make a roster. Baseball is by far the more surer route to have a shot at making it.

Next year is his junior year for baseball, FWIW. Batting .440 in your sophomore season and never having focused on baseball alone show he is just raw talent. Imagine a year of focusing on nothing but baseball. I still say he goes, but the possibility of a return is not that unlikely with 2 more years of baseball ahead of him.

[Fact]

Well, like others have said, if he passes on baseball for now and waits until after his senior year, in all likliehood he ends up with much less money. He's got zero leverage at that point as he doesn't have college to fall back on. Can he do that? Sure, but he'd be losing something. And let's be honest here, he is not very likely to be drafted for the NFL, and even if he is, he's a 6th or 7th rounder at best, which is a crap shoot at best to even make a roster. Baseball is by far the more surer route to have a shot at making it.

Next year is his junior year for baseball, FWIW. Batting .440 in your sophomore season and never having focused on baseball alone show he is just raw talent. Imagine a year of focusing on nothing but baseball. I still say he goes, but the possibility of a return is not that unlikely with 2 more years of baseball ahead of him.

A few things about Szczur in Baseball

1. What Position does he play? He by all accounts has a below average arm and has been playing at Right Field which is perhaps the most important position in the majors to have a strong arm. He was listed as a catcher but he hasn't caught a game since he's been at Villanova. I don't see him having a position aside from maybe second base (which we don't know if he can play because he's never done it in his life.)
2. He has nowhere near enough power to be a major league outfielder, sure he hits for tremendous average, but he's not facing big league pitching.. You can look great in college and even be a good minor league player but end up at best a major league fourth outfielder (or never even stick on a major league bench.)
3. Football would make his future prospects far more concrete. As a slot receiver/kick returner you can have a very long and prosperous career while making far more money than a reserve major leaguer. Szczur has been on the record saying football is his first love so i see very little reason why he'd want to ruin a potentially lucrative NFL career to sign an average sized bonus from a major league team
His role as a

No position+lack of even average Big League power projection=career minor leaguer/Major league 5th outfielder

[GannonFan]

Next year is his junior year for baseball, FWIW. Batting .440 in your sophomore season and never having focused on baseball alone show he is just raw talent. Imagine a year of focusing on nothing but baseball. I still say he goes, but the possibility of a return is not that unlikely with 2 more years of baseball ahead of him.

A few things about Szczur in Baseball

1. What Position does he play? He by all accounts has a below average arm and has been playing at Right Field which is perhaps the most important position in the majors to have a strong arm. He was listed as a catcher but he hasn't caught a game since he's been at Villanova. I don't see him having a position aside from maybe second base (which we don't know if he can play because he's never done it in his life.)
2. He has nowhere near enough power to be a major league outfielder, sure he hits for tremendous average, but he's not facing big league pitching.. You can look great in college and even be a good minor league player but end up at best a major league fourth outfielder (or never even stick on a major league bench.)
3. Football would make his future prospects far more concrete. As a slot receiver/kick returner you can have a very long and prosperous career while making far more money than a reserve major leaguer. Szczur has been on the record saying football is his first love so i see very little reason why he'd want to ruin a potentially lucrative NFL career to sign an average sized bonus from a major league team
His role as a

No position+lack of even average Big League power projection=career minor leaguer/Major league 5th outfielder

Huh? There's a whole slew of Major League outfielders who don't hit for power. If he doesn't make the majors, it won't be exclusively because of that. And if he's playing RF right now, you know, LF isn't really all that much different. And with his speed, even CF isn't a problem either. There's plenty of outfielders who don't hit for power and he can play somewhere other than RF. Heck, from your description of him, you seem to be wondering why the Cubs wasted a 5th round pick on such a below average baseball player.

And frankly, you lost me on the whole "... slot receiver/kick returner you can have a very long and prosperous career while making far more money than a reserve major leaguer...". Really? And that's assuming he can even make the NFL, which is the more concerning issue. Let's face it, he's not a sure thing to even get drafted by the NFL and now you have him sticking in the NFL for a long career.

[foghorn]

Fact, not so sure football is his first love.

Szczur always has wanted to play baseball. He was drafted in the 38th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school but decided to go to college.

He decided to go to Villanova on a football scholarship because it was the only school that also allowed him to play baseball.

Article:http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/spor ... 75d09.html
His love for the game will most likely be the deciding factor. Which sport is it?

[CatMom]

Our 5th round (1st pick) just signed for $174,000 plus them paying for his finishing college. Martinson came on a football scholly too but got injured on his first reception, his first season and stayed with baseball. Chances of getting a career (of any kind) ending injury in football are a great deal higher. I'd take the money and "run"

[wideright82]

Next year is his junior year for baseball, FWIW. Batting .440 in your sophomore season and never having focused on baseball alone show he is just raw talent. Imagine a year of focusing on nothing but baseball. I still say he goes, but the possibility of a return is not that unlikely with 2 more years of baseball ahead of him.

A few things about Szczur in Baseball

1. What Position does he play? He by all accounts has a below average arm and has been playing at Right Field which is perhaps the most important position in the majors to have a strong arm. He was listed as a catcher but he hasn't caught a game since he's been at Villanova. I don't see him having a position aside from maybe second base (which we don't know if he can play because he's never done it in his life.)
2. He has nowhere near enough power to be a major league outfielder, sure he hits for tremendous average, but he's not facing big league pitching.. You can look great in college and even be a good minor league player but end up at best a major league fourth outfielder (or never even stick on a major league bench.)
3. Football would make his future prospects far more concrete. As a slot receiver/kick returner you can have a very long and prosperous career while making far more money than a reserve major leaguer. Szczur has been on the record saying football is his first love so i see very little reason why he'd want to ruin a potentially lucrative NFL career to sign an average sized bonus from a major league team
His role as a

No position+lack of even average Big League power projection=career minor leaguer/Major league 5th outfielder

I leave you with one name and one name only. Johnny Damon. Case and point.


Just in case that doesn't quite leave you wanting more. Bernie Williams. Arguably two of the worst arms in the history of the outfield. Damon just hits and runs really fucking fast. Bernie was... well... Bernie, but he still threw like an 8th grader. Football is not concrete, but neither is baseball. However, like I said, he hasn't focused on baseball for more than a season at a time. Imagine the possibilities. Baseball is his sport.

[Thumper 76]

Next year is his junior year for baseball, FWIW. Batting .440 in your sophomore season and never having focused on baseball alone show he is just raw talent. Imagine a year of focusing on nothing but baseball. I still say he goes, but the possibility of a return is not that unlikely with 2 more years of baseball ahead of him.

A few things about Szczur in Baseball

1. What Position does he play? He by all accounts has a below average arm and has been playing at Right Field which is perhaps the most important position in the majors to have a strong arm. He was listed as a catcher but he hasn't caught a game since he's been at Villanova. I don't see him having a position aside from maybe second base (which we don't know if he can play because he's never done it in his life.)
2. He has nowhere near enough power to be a major league outfielder, sure he hits for tremendous average, but he's not facing big league pitching.. You can look great in college and even be a good minor league player but end up at best a major league fourth outfielder (or never even stick on a major league bench.)
3. Football would make his future prospects far more concrete. As a slot receiver/kick returner you can have a very long and prosperous career while making far more money than a reserve major leaguer. Szczur has been on the record saying football is his first love so i see very little reason why he'd want to ruin a potentially lucrative NFL career to sign an average sized bonus from a major league team
His role as a

No position+lack of even average Big League power projection=career minor leaguer/Major league 5th outfielder

Sounds like someone is clinging to the hope that he comes back to me.

[AppStateAlumQC]

He should probably sign but the opportunity to win a second national title is hard to pass up.

[Big McLargehuge]

Sign him Chicago...I hope he fails miserably moreso now that he's a Cubs prospect but...just spend the money and get him the **** out of the FCS.

[00bluehen]

Nice little blurb in SI last week (the one with Strasburg on the cover) on Szczur spending almost a month away from the baseball team this spring so he could donate bone marrow to a kid he's never met. Kid's got my vote no matter what he chooses to do.

[Get em Griz]

wow i never knew he played baseball

[Fact]

The buzz is that Villanova fans should be optimistic and CAA fans should be in agony.

[guinzone]

Looks like Szczur is staying at Nova:
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CraigHaley: FCS fans, not just Villanova fans, should be happy Matt Szczur will play his senior season this fall.

[danefan]

Best of both worlds actually:

Signed with the Cubs and negotiated a contract that allows him to play his senior year of football.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/spor ... 002e0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Congrats to him.

[Willie]

Thought there was a NCAA rule about being paid to play a sport while still enrolled in college?

[Fact]

Thought there was a NCAA rule about being paid to play a sport while still enrolled in college?

As long as he doesn't sign any endorsement deals he should be fine.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Thought there was a NCAA rule about being paid to play a sport while still enrolled in college?

As long as he doesn't sign any endorsement deals he should be fine.

He seems like a pretty smart lad so I would bet they went over that part pretty thoroughly. I like the kid's style and hope he has a great final year of football and a great career in baseball.

[Griz03]

Good for him

[Nova69]

From BaseballAmerica.com

Matt Szczur already had one of the more intriguing backgrounds among 2010 draftees. Now the Cubs fifth-round pick has one of the most interesting contracts as well.

Szczur, a Villanova outfielder who officially signed a $100,000 bonus deal with the Cubs on July 2, is also a star wide receiver who helped the Wildcats win the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national title last fall. He was named MVP of the championship game after amassing 270 all-purpose yards, and is a legitimate NFL prospect. His deal with Chicago will give him an additional $500,000 bonus–provided he declines to attend the NFL combine and makes a written commitment to baseball before Feb. 10, 2011. He also would have to pass an additional physical at that time.

Under MLB provisions for two-sport athletes, the Cubs can spread Szczur's bonus over multiple years.