ERMA – Lower Township resident and 2007 Lower Cape May Regional High School graduate Matt Szczur, 25, made his major-league debut as the Cubs played and beat the New York Mets 2-1 at Citi Field in Queens Aug. 17, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The Cubs promoted Szczur from their triple-AAA affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, Saturday night, Aug. 16.
According to the Press of Atlantic City, Szczur’s first and only at-bat came in the top of the ninth inning. He grounded up the middle into a force play, reaching first base on the fielder’s choice. Szczur also played two innings in right field after entering the game as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning.
Szczur wore No. 41 during Sunday’s game, the number he wore as a Lower Cape May Regional football player. He also played baseball and ran indoor track and field as a student there.
More than 20 of Szczur’s relatives, friends and former teammates made the trip to Citi Field to watch him play Aug. 17.
While in the minor leagues, Szczur batted .261 with 30 stolen bases and 52 runs scored in 116 games for Iowa. He was batting .238 in early July and hit .292 in August.
“I thought I was going to the NFL,” Szczur told the Press of Atlantic City.
He played quarterback and running back for the Caper Tigers. In 2009, Szczur helped lead Villanova University to the Football Championship Subdivision title. However, he also attracted the attention of baseball scouts at Villanova.
The Cubs picked him the fifth round of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Entry draft in June 2010. Although there was speculation he might be drafted by an NFL team, Szczur committed fully to baseball in 2011 after signing a reported $1.5 million contract with the Cubs.
Before Sunday’s game, Cubs manager Rick Renteria told the Press of Atlantic City that he will soon get Szczur a start. There is a good chance Szczur will remain with the Cubs for the rest of the season.
The Cubs begin a series against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field in Chicago Aug. 19.