The long, strange trip of Matt Bush

[Frayed Knot]

Matt Bush was the San Diego area native who was the #1 overall draft pick of the Padres [u:2vs29fdl]in 2004[/u:2vs29fdl], but since then has been part of the trivia question about former 1/1 picks who failed to reach the major leagues [steve Chilcott, Brien Taylor, plus some recent picks still learning their craft]

Bush's career got off on the wrong foot almost immediately when he was suspended by his club for a fight during his first training camp and then failed to rise above A-ball after that (a .219 BA will do that to you) even after trying a switch from SS to pitching in 2007.
Dropped by the Pads, he was out of the game in 2008-09 before latching on as a pitcher with the Rays org in 2010, briefly reaching AA in 2011. But that stint was derailed by alcohol addiction and a 3rd DUI arrest, a hit-and-run which almost resulted in a fatality, which got him 3-year prison term.
Out of the game from 2012-15, he latched on with the Rangers this spring and has been pitching as a reliever in AA Frisco (Tx)

Today the 30 y/o Bush he was called up by the Rangers for their game at home vs Toronto.

[ashie62]

The New Ron LeFlore.

[Frayed Knot]

Made his debut with a 1-2-3 inning in Friday night's loss to the Blue Jays.

[Edgy MD]

I wonder, when a team considers all the baggage a guy like that comes with, how much the "Former #1 Overall" label still helps him.

Interesting that it's the Rangers he lands with.

[soupcan]

Why? Because of Hamilton?

[ashie62]

soupcan wrote: Why? Because of Hamilton?

Ron Washington?

[Edgy MD]

In part, yes, I'm referring to Josh Hamilton, even though Hamilton first re-asserted himself in Cincinnati.

Beyond that, there's always been a market for redemption stories in the Cotton Belt.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

contributed to today's big Jays-Rangers brawl by hbp-ing Bautista. Hard slide into 2nd then ignites a fracas with Joey Bats absorbing a hard punch in the mug from Roughned Odor. he's rough!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

contributed to today's big Jays-Rangers brawl by hbp-ing Bautista. Hard slide into 2nd then ignites a fracas with Joey Bats absorbing a hard punch in the mug from Roughned Odor. he's rough!

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: In part, yes, I'm referring to Josh Hamilton, even though Hamilton first re-asserted himself in Cincinnati.

Indeed, as noted by the NY Times in one of their papers in the last few days (Fri or Sat), there's an advisor within the Ranger org who's in charge of problem cases that may come up and it was he who advocated for getting both Hamilton & Bush.

[nymr83]

There was a decent story on Bush in ESPN's magazine recently, can't seem to find it on the web though.