From prison to the big leagues: Matt Bush finally realizes MLB dream

Agence France-Presse

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From prison to the big leagues: Matt Bush finally realizes MLB dream
Matt Bush spent 3 and a half years in prison for a drunk driving crash that nearly killed a motorcyclist. Twelve years after being drafted, he's found his way to the big leagues

WASHINGTON, USA – Matt Bush, a 30-year-old relief pitcher who spent 3 1/2 years in prison for a drunk driving crash that nearly killed a motorcyclist, reached Major League Baseball on Friday, May 13 when he was called up by the Texas Rangers.

Twelve years after being taken with the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft, Bush was given the chance to shed the label as one of the sport’s all-time flops. He was on the roster for Friday’s home game against Toronto.

Bush’s career was thought over after his stay in a Florida prison for the traffic accident, but he was released last October and signed a development-league deal with Texas after showing he could still throw at nearly 100 mph.

 

The San Diego high school product was the top overall pick by Bush’s hometown Padres in 2004 but he was arrested in a nightclub incident before ever playing a professional game and he was later arrested for assaulting two high school lacrosse players. Bush was traded to Toronto and later released by the Blue Jays.

Bush was later arrested for throwing objects at cars at a San Diego shopping mall and charged with drink driving after a crash before given a chance with Tampa Bay that ended with the incident that led to his time in prison.

But in his Minor League games this year for Double-A Frisco in Corpus Christi, Texas, Bush has struck out 18 batters in 17 innings, allowing 9 hits while walking 4 with a 2.65 earned-run average and 5 saves.

Bush told reporters that he was informed by the team’s pitching coach, who knocked on his hotel room door to deliver the news

“I didn’t know it was gonna be majors, but it’s extremely exciting,” Bush was quoted by FoxSports

“I just felt like jumping up and down, just thinking how hard I’ve been working lately and just following the course. Altogether, it’s unbelievable, it’s hard to explain.”

The Rangers demoted outfielder Delino DeShields to the development level to make room for Bush on the roster. – Rappler.com

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