Matt Szczur, Outfield

Date of Birth: 7/20/1989
Birthplace: Cape May, New Jersey
College: Villanova University

Matt Szczur, outfielder, was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007 but he opted instead for college. He played both baseball and football at Villanova University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2010.

Szczur played in the Cubs' minor league system from 2010 through most of 2014. During that time, he had 535 hits, 101 doubles, 164 RBIs, 120 stolen bases, 296 strikeouts to 177 walks, and a .280 batting average in 491 games. Defensively, as a center fielder, he made 790 putouts and 8 errors in 347 games. In 2014, Szczur joined the Cubs for 33 games.

Szczur played in 47 games with the Cubs in 2015. He batted .222 with 16 hits. Defensively, he played 26 games in left field, 6 games in center field, and 4 games in right field.

Szczur finished the 2016 season with a .259 ERA in 107 games with the Cubs. Defensively, he played 50 games in left field, 15 games in center field, and 15 games in right field. He didn't play in the postseason.

The Cubs traded Szczur to the San Diego Padres on May 8, 2017. He finished the 2017 season with 44 hits and a .226 batting average in 15 games with the Cubs and 104 games with the Padres. Defensively, he played 49 games in left field, 21 games in center field, and 18 games in right field.

Szczur spent most of the 2018 season on the DL and in the minors. In 57 games with the Padres, he had 14 hits.

Szczur became a free agent on October 2, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 14, 2018. He spent the 2019 season in the minors.

Szczur became a free agent on November 4, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on December 20th. The Phillies released him on June 27, 2020. He didn't play professional baseball in 2020.

Szczur signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on February 14, 2021. He was released on June 28, 2021. He played only in the minors in 2021.

Personal Life

In 2009, Szczur donated bone marrow to save a 15-month old girl in the Ukraine.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Matt Szczur
ESPN - Matt Szczur
Baseball Reference - Matt Szczur