Jim Callis of Baseball America confirmed that Cubs prospect outfielder Matt Szczur has verbally committed to a $1.5 million contract.
Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net had the initial report. This new deal means that Szczur has decided against a potential career in the NFL. Szczur was the Cubs' fifth-round pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. The 21-year-old batted .347/.414/.465 over his first 116 professional plate appearances before returning to Villanova to play football in his senior year. He was recently ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Cubs' organization by Baseball America, though the ranking was done before the Matt Garza trade.