Major League Baseball teams adjusted their 40-man rosters on Friday to protect players from the Rule 5 draft, while letting others dangle for teams.
Matt Szczur, an Erma resident, received the distinction. The Chicago Cubs placed him on the 40-man roster after just playing in one full season, according to team's website. Szczur played part of the 2010 season after the Chicago Cubs drafted him in the fifth round.
Szczur is highly touted in the Cubs organization. He hit .293 (131-for-477) with 22 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBIs and 75 runs in 109 games for Class-A Peoria and Daytona.
The 22-year-old appeared in the Futures Game and was ranked the third-best prospect in the Cubs organization by Baseball America.
Vineland native Darren Ford did not get good news on Friday.
He was one of two players removed from the San Francisco Giants 40-man roster. Ford was designated for assignment, the team's website wrote.
Ford hit .286 (4-for-14) in 26 games for the Giants this year. He's best known for his game-changing speed. However, the 26-year-old was hampered by injuries. He spent time on the disabled list even the majors and missed games in the minors as well.
