| Matt Bush | |
|---|---|
_2017.jpg) Bush with theTexas Rangers in 2017 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1986-02-08)February 8, 1986 (age 39) San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 13, 2016, for the Texas Rangers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 30, 2023, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 12–11 |
| Earned run average | 3.75 |
| Strikeouts | 227 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Matthew Brian Bush (born February 8, 1986) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theTexas Rangers andMilwaukee Brewers. He was drafted by theSan Diego Padres with thefirst overall draft pick in the2004 Major League Baseball draft. Despite being drafted first overall, due to numerous personal and legal problems, Bush did not make his MLB debut until he was 30 years old, in May 2016.
Bush attendedMission Bay High School inSan Diego,California. He playedshortstop, where his defense and arm strength made him a top major league prospect. He had a .450batting average with 11home runs and 35runs batted in (RBIs). He also pitched, and he threw a 94-mile-per-hour (151 km/h)fastball with acurveball. Bush had a 5–1win–loss record with twosaves and a 0.73earned run average (ERA).[1] Bush was considered one of the bestfive-tool players ever to come out of high school.[citation needed]
He also played soccer and ran track in high school.[citation needed]
TheSan Diego Padres selected Bush first overall in the2004 Major League Baseball draft, originally as a shortstop. When he signed with the Padres, he received asigning bonus of $3.15 million, the second-largest signing bonus ever given to a Padres draft pick.[2] As it turned out, Bush was actually the Padres' third choice, as they wanted one of two collegiate stars,Stephen Drew orJered Weaver. However, both were represented byScott Boras, who was known for demanding hefty bonuses for his clients. Padres ownerJohn Moores was unwilling to meet those demands, so he selected Bush.[3] Bush became the first shortstop drafted first overall from high school since theSeattle Mariners selectedAlex Rodriguez in 1993.[1]
Bush's professional career began with his suspension before he ever took the field, for his role in a fight outside an Arizona bar.[4] Bushhit .192 in 99at bats between the Rookie-levelArizona League and the short-seasonNorthwest League. In the 2005 season, Bush hit .221 in 453 at bats for theFort Wayne Wizards of the Single-AMidwest League. Duringspring training in 2006, he broke his ankle and missed half the season.[citation needed]
Bush struggled again in 2007, hitting for a .583OPS as of May 28. The Padres then converted Bush to a pitcher.[5] His fastball reached a speed of 98 miles per hour (158 km/h), and he had prior knowledge of pitching from his days as a high school ace. After a promising start in rookie league, Bush tore a ligament in his pitching elbow in August 2007, ending his season. He hadTommy John surgery, sidelining him for 2008 as well.[6] The Padres, however, placed Bush on the 40-man roster after the 2008 season to protect him from being selected in theRule 5 draft.[citation needed]
Bush wasdesignated for assignment on February 5, 2009, to make room on the 40-man roster forCliff Floyd.[7] Shortly afterward, it was learned that Bush was allegedly intoxicated in a high school parking lot where he assaulted two freshman lacrosse players.[8] On February 10, Bush was traded to theToronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[9] The Blue Jays put him on a "zero tolerance" policy.[10] At a party on March 30, he reportedly threw a baseball at a woman's head and banged on her car window after accusing her of drawing markings on his face at a party inDunedin, Florida. The Blue Jays released him the next day.[11] He was out of baseball for the entire 2009 season.
On January 28, 2010, Bush signed a minor league contract with theTampa Bay Rays. He played one injury-plagued season for the Single-ACharlotte Stone Crabs in theFlorida State League before being added to the Rays'40-man roster in November.[12] During the 2011 season, Bush played for the Rays' Double-A affiliate, theMontgomery Biscuits of theSouthern League, primarily as a late reliever and occasional closer. He was promoted to the Rays' top affiliate, theDurham Bulls, in September, but never appeared during their playoff drive.[10] Bush was slated to begin the 2012 season in Durham, but the Rays placed Bush on the restricted list after a drunken Bush ran over a 72-year-old man's head during spring training[13] and was released shortly after the 2012 season ended.
On December 18, 2015, theTexas Rangers signed Bush to a minor league contract, two months after his release from prison.[14][15] He was signed after tryouts at aGolden Corral parking lot inJacksonville, Florida (the only place Bush could work out; due to his post-release restrictions he could only travel to and from his Golden Corral job).
The Rangers had experience with players struggling with substance abuse issues (notablyJosh Hamilton, also a former #1 overall pick). Bush was placed on a zero-tolerance policy. His father, Danny, accompanied him to games and lived with him, paying out of his own pocket. On April 7, 2016, Bush threw his first professional pitch in almost five years for theFrisco RoughRiders of the Double-ATexas League, as he earned a save in one inning, while allowing one hit.[citation needed]
On May 13, 2016, Bush was called up to the major leagues by the Rangers.[16] He worked the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays that night, retiring the heart of the Jays lineup (Josh Donaldson,José Bautista, andEdwin Encarnación) by inducing a double-play off the bat of Edwin Encarnación after hitting José Bautista with a pitch. On May 15, Bush earned his first major league win in a 7–6 victory over theToronto Blue Jays, a game more noted for the scuffle betweenRougned Odor andJosé Bautista that would wind up in abench-clearing brawl.[17] Bush made 58 appearances out of the bullpen in 2016, finishing with a 7–2 record, a 2.48 ERA, and one save.
On April 12, 2017, it was revealed that Bush was diagnosed withAC joint soreness in his right shoulder.[18] In 57 relief appearances for Texas in 2017, he was 3–4 with a 3.78 ERA and 58 strikeouts in52+1⁄3 innings pitched.
Bush began 2018 with the Rangers. However, he was demoted to theTriple-ARound Rock Express on April 25 to work on hiscommand as he had walked nine batters in11+1⁄3 innings pitched along with posting a 1.50 WHIP.[19]
Bush underwent surgery on his right elbow to fix a partial tear of hisulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in September 2018. The procedure was expected to keep him from game action until the second half of the 2019 season.[20]
On December 17, 2018, Bush re-signed with the Texas Rangers on a minor-league contract, after being non-tendered earlier in the offseason.[21] Bush opened the 2019 season on theinjured list as he recovered from surgery. He was activated on June 8 and assigned to Frisco.[22] On July 3, the Rangers announced that Bush suffered a tornUCL and would undergo a second Tommy John surgery; ending his 2019 season.[23] He elected free agency on November 4.[24] On December 16, 2019, he re-signed with Texas on a two-year minor league contract as he recovered from the surgery.[25]
On April 1, 2021, Bush was selected to the 40-man roster.[26] On April 12, 2021, it was announced that Bush would miss at least 12 weeks due to a flexor strain.[27] He was placed on the 60-day injured list the next day.[28] On November 5, 2021, Bush was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[29] On April 5, 2022, Bush had his contract selected to the major league roster.
On August 1, 2022, Bush was traded to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielderMark Mathias and pitcherAntoine Kelly.[30] On November 18, Bush signed a one-year, $1.85 million contract with the Brewers, avoiding arbitration.
In 2023, Bush made 12 appearances for Milwaukee, struggling to a 9.58 ERA with 10 strikeouts and 1 save across10+1⁄3 innings of work. On July 1, 2023, Bush wasdesignated for assignment by the Brewers.[31] The removal of Bush from the roster came the night after he allowed a two–run, walk–off home run toCarlos Santana of thePittsburgh Pirates.[32] Bush was released by Milwaukee on July 3.[33]
On July 12, 2023, Bush signed a minor league contract to return to theTexas Rangers organization.[34] In 9 games for the Triple–ARound Rock Express, he posted a 2.13 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 2 saves in12+2⁄3 innings pitched. On September 30, the Rangers selected Bush's contract, adding him to the major league roster.[35]
A few weeks after the Padres drafted him in 2004, Bush was arrested on suspicion of felony assault, misdemeanor trespass, disorderly conduct, and underage drinking, after he allegedly fought with security trying to escort him out of a bar.[36]
In early 2009, Bush was allegedly involved in a drunken assault at a San Diego high school, which was caught on camera. According to witnesses, a drunken Bush beat up a high schoollacrosse player with a golf club while screaming, "I'm Matt fucking Bush!," which was recorded on videotape. This led the Padres to designate Bush for assignment following the team's signing ofCliff Floyd and then trade him to the Blue Jays.[3][8] Only a month later, he assaulted and berated a woman at a party in Florida, and was released by the Blue Jays for violating a "zero tolerance" agreement.[11]
On March 22, 2012, Bush was arrested and charged with two counts of DUI with property damage, one count of DUI with serious bodily injury, one count ofleaving the scene of an accident with an injury, one count of driving with a suspended license, and 2 counts of leaving the scene of an accident with damage to property. In the incident, Bush hit 72-year-old motorcyclist Tony Tufano on theTamiami Trail (U.S. Route 41) northbound inPort Charlotte, Florida, running over his head as he fled the scene in aDodge Durango belonging to teammateBrandon Guyer. According to a witness, Tufano survived the incident because he was wearing a helmet.[37] Bush was arrested inNorth Port, three miles down the road from the accident. He was on the road after getting kicked out of a nearby strip club for trying to climb on the stage. When he was arrested, Bush had ablood alcohol content of .18, more than double the legal limit in Florida.[13] Bush spent the 2012 season housed at the Charlotte County Jail on $440,000 bail (reduced from an initial $1.015 million bond), and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment (via closed-circuit TV from the Charlotte County Jail) on May 21. Bush remains a suspect in two other hit and run accidents further north on the Tamiami Trail inVenice that occurred earlier that day.[38] The following Sunday, Rays general managerAndrew Friedman announced that Bush would never play for the Rays organization again.[39] The Rays placed Bush on the restricted list for the 2012 season, meaning that he was no longer on the 40-man roster, nor did he accumulate service time.[40] He was officially released on October 6.
On December 18, 2012, Bush accepted aplea bargain and pleaded no contest to one count of DUI with great bodily injury. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison. As this was Bush's third DUI conviction in 10 years, he was banned from driving legally in Florida for 10 years after his release from prison. In the process, Bush turned down a deal that had less prison time (3 years), but with 7 years probation owing to pastalcoholism issues.[41][42] The Tufanos filed a $5 million civil suit against Bush, but settled in 2013 for a reported $200,000.[43]
Bush was housed at the Mayo Correctional Institution inMayo, Florida, as of January 2015.[44] He was released from prison on October 30, 2015.[45]
On October 4, 2024, Bush was arrested and charged with DWI, evading arrest, and a collision resulting in injury by theArlington, Texas Police Department. Officers attempted to stop Bush after he was seen driving erratically. Bush evaded in his vehicle, and caused an accident. He then fled the scene on foot before being apprehended by bystanders.[46][47] In late January 2025, Bush was arrested again for violating parole related to the DWI after he failed a required alcohol monitoring test which showed alcohol in his body.[48]
