WRIGLEYVILLE — Outfielder Matt Szczur didn't make the Cubs playoffs roster, but he's played a major role in two of the team's biggest wins over the Dodgers.
It was Szczur's bat that Anthony Rizzo borrowed to belt a home run in Wednesday's Game 4, snapping a 2-for-29 slump.
“He’s done that a few times, grabbed my bat,” Szczur told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s the same weight and size, just a different model. So he just grabbed one.”
On Thursday, Szczur revealed he'd made a less visible, but no less important, loan to lockermate Addison Russell — his underwear.
.@superSZCZ4, super honest. #FlyTheW https://t.co/2PPRCETmL3
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 21, 2016
In a chat with announcers during the game's broadcast, Szczur said Russell told him, "‘Szc, make sure you give me a shout out because I wore your underwear yesterday.’ I swear. He wore my leggings. He left his leggings in Chicago and he asked for a pair and I gave him one.”
Rizzo and Russell are a combined 10-for-20, with three home runs and eight RBIs since bumming gear off Szczur.
Other teammates have taken notice, and are hitting Szczur up for a piece of luck.
"[Ben Zobrist] was like, 'Hey, [Matt], what have you got for me?" Szczur told MLB.com.
Shirt off your back? Whatever it takes, Matt, whatever it takes.
Confirmed. @Addison_Russell tells @Kelly_Crull that he wore Matt Szczur's leggings last night and tonight. #CubsTalk
— Ryan McGuffey (@RyanMcGuffey) October 21, 2016
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
