CLEVELAND — Matt Szczur had a pretty nice first full season in the major leagues for the Cubs, hitting .259/.312/.400 with five homers in 200 plate appearances as a reserve outfielder. The 27-year-old from New Jersey led Chicago with 12 pinch hits, the most for a Cub in four years.
Whatever happens in the World Series, Szczur has been an important part of this Cubs team, perhaps most memorably working out a walk and coming around to score the winning run on a walk-off wild pitch against the Marlins in August. He had a homer that put the Cubs ahead to stay in their second game of the season, and a two-run double in the ninth inning to win the season finale.