It is a scenario that many two-sport athletes face: They must give up a sport they love to focus on the other one.

This one, however, comes with a $500,000 bonus.

That's what Matt Szczur faces as a Chicago Cubs fifth-round draft pick and a Football Championship Subdivision all-American wideout at Villanova.

After being selected in June's Major League Baseball draft, the former all-Big East baseball player received a $100,000 signing bonus from the Cubs. The Villanova senior, who is playing for the single-A Peoria Chiefs, will receive the additional $500,000 by committing completely to the Cubs before February's NFL scouting combine.

"I don't really think about that stuff," Szczur said of having to make the decision. "During football season, I will know where I am at. And if I'm not at where I am liking it, I'm just going to go back to play baseball."

Szczur could be selected as high as the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft, according to NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock.

If that projection remains following this football season, the Cubs may have to say goodbye to the 21-year-old from Erma, Cape May County.

"Obviously, if I get drafted for football, I will pursue that," Szczur said. "If you get drafted in the top five rounds, you are going to secure a spot if you outperform your expectations in camp."

The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder said there's another bonus to picking football if he projects to go in the first five rounds.

"Once you make it, you make it, man," he said of the NFL. "You get a salary for your first year. While in baseball, you might never make it [to the major leagues]. That's what I think about, where I would be better off financially."

In comparison to what the Cubs are offering, Eagles defensive back Victor Harris, a fifth-round draft pick in 2009, made a base salary of $310,000 last season and received a $180,275 signing bonus.

But based on this month's performance, choosing baseball could still be a good option.

Szczur has been promoted twice since making his minor-league debut with the AZL Cubs of the Arizona Rookie League on July 7.

His first promotion to the short-season single-A Boise Hawks followed just one game with the AZL Cubs. Szczur was then promoted to Peoria on Tuesday.

As of Thursday, he had hit safely in the combined 21 minor-league games at the three stops.

He had a .397 batting average with 16 runs scored, nine doubles, and eight RBIs with Boise. Through two games with Peoria, Szczur was batting .444 (4 for 9) with three runs, two RBIs, a triple, and a double.

"Everything I've heard from in Boise from [Hawks manager] Jody Davis were good things to say," Peoria manager Casey Kopitzke said. "And the two days he's been here have been a real good indication that he's got a chance to be a quality big-leaguer."

Davis and Kopitzke aren't the only ones in the Cubs organization raving over Szczur.

"We're hoping his experience with Boise and with the Cubs will, in the end, win him over, and he'll pick baseball," Oneri Fleita, Cubs vice president for player personnel, told CSNChicago.com on Monday. "I can tell you that with the reports on his talent and ability, his work ethic and the type of person he is, we'll do everything we can to make sure he's a Chicago Cub."

The Cubs may want to accelerate their sales pitch.

Szczur returns to Villanova on Wednesday in preparation for the start of the Wildcats' football camp three days later.

A do-it-all player, he's being touted for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the best player in the FCS.

When Villanova won its first national championship in December, Szczur contributed 270 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats' 23-21 victory over Montana. He also swept the Colonial Athletic Association's honors for offensive player of the year and special teams player of the year.

As expected, he was named the conference's preseason offensive player of the year as well as its all-conference return specialist for 2010 on Wednesday.

"He's the kind of kid who is going to be a great value [NFL draft] pick because he is going to learn how to play slot receiver," said Mayock, whose son Mike is a reserve defensive back for the Wildcats. "He's got real good speed. He's got tremendous lateral quickness. He catches the ball well, and he's tough as nails."

Mayock said that if Szczur picks football, he'll also be one of the top special-teams players in the draft.

"Not only can he be a return guy, he can also be a gunner and a jammer, and cover kickoffs," Mayock said. "This a guy who I believe brings true value to a team.

"So at the end of the year, I think he is plus or minus a fourth-rounder."

For now, Szczur tries not to focus on having to pick a sport. But the plan is to make an impact in whichever one he chooses.

"My goals are to be a success at whatever I do," Szczur said. "Whether it's baseball, football or in real life, I'm trying to be a success."

Contact staff writer Keith Pompey at 610-313-8029

or kpompey@phillynews.com.