Matt Bush (baseball)

Last updated

52+13 innings pitched.

Bush began 2018 with the Rangers. However, he was demoted to the Triple-A Round Rock Express on April 25 to work on his command as he had walked nine batters in 11+13 innings pitched along with posting a 1.50 WHIP. [19]

Bush underwent surgery on his right elbow to fix a partial tear of his ulnar 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 the injured 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 torn UCL 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.

Milwaukee Brewers (2022–2023)

On August 1, 2022, Bush was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielder Mark Mathias and pitcher Antoine 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 across 10+13 innings of work. On July 1, 2023, Bush was designated 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 to Carlos Santana of the Pittsburgh Pirates. [32] Bush was released by Milwaukee on July 3. [33]

Texas Rangers (second stint)

On July 12, 2023, Bush signed a minor league contract to return to the Texas Rangers organization. [34] In 9 games for the Triple–A Round Rock Express, he posted a 2.13 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 2 saves in 12+23 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 school lacrosse 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 of Cliff 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 of leaving 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 the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Route 41) northbound in Port Charlotte, Florida, running over his head as he fled the scene in a Dodge Durango belonging to teammate Brandon Guyer. According to a witness, Tufano survived the incident because he was wearing a helmet. [37] Bush was arrested in North 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 a blood 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 in Venice that occurred earlier that day. [38] The following Sunday, Rays general manager Andrew 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 a plea 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 past alcoholism 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 in Mayo, 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 the Arlington, 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]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bush selected by Padres with top pick in baseball draft". USA Today . Associated Press. June 7, 2004. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012.
  2. Eddy, Matt (January 30, 2009). "Baseball America, Top 10 prospects 2009: LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY". baseballamerica.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Lee Jenkins (February 12, 2011). "Former No.1 Pick Bush Bush ends Padres tenure as epic bust". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on July 17, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  4. Center, Bill (July 21, 2004). "Bush's suspension lifted". San Diego Union-Tribune . Archived from the original on July 23, 2004.
  5. "Matt Bush Stats News Pictures Bio" . Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  6. Brock, Corey. "Notes: Bush needs elbow surgery", MLB.com, August 18, 2007. Accessed June 5, 2008.
  7. Stark, Jayson (February 5, 2009). "Source: Floyd, Padres agree to deal". ESPN . Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Brent Schrotenboer (February 6, 2009). "Padres cut ties with Matt Bush". San Diego Union-Tribune . Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  9. "Blue Jays acquire Bush". Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Gaines, Cork (September 7, 2011). "Troubled MLB Top Pick Matt Bush, Now One Step From Big Leagues" . Business Insider. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Schroenboer, Brent. Matt Bush in trouble again. San Diego Union-Tribune, April 3, 2009.
  12. Fordin, Spencer (November 6, 2010). "Rays add Bush to their 40-man roster". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011.
  13. 1 2 Jeff Passan (March 26, 2012). "Long, maddening fall for former No. 1 Matt Bush". Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  14. Cwik, Chris (December 18, 2015). "Rangers sign former No. 1 pick Matt Bush after 34 months in prison". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  15. Stevenson, Stefan (December 19, 2015). "Rangers sign former No. 1 pick Matt Bush after three-year prison term". Fort Worth Star-Telegram .
  16. Taylor, Jean-Jacques (May 13, 2016). "Rangers adding Matt Bush to 25-man roster". ESPN . Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  17. "Matt Bush earns first career win, Rangers beat Blue Jays 7–6". Tampa Bay Times. May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  18. Sullivan, T.R. "Matt Bush returns to Texas with AC joint soreness". MLB. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  19. Koch, Travis (May 11, 2018). "Texas Rangers: An Update on Matt Bush". Nolan Writin. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  20. "Rangers reliever Matt Bush has elbow surgery, out until mid-2019". ESPN.com. September 19, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  21. "Rangers sign pitchers Matt Bush, Zac Curtis, and Tim Dillard, along with infielder Chase d'Arnaud, to Minor League contracts". MLB.com. December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  22. Adam J. Morris (June 8, 2019). "Matt Bush joining Frisco Roughriders". Lone Star Ball. SB Nation . Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  23. "Reports: Matt Bush Suffers Torn UCL, Will Undergo Tommy John". 105.3 The Fan . July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  24. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  25. "Texas inks Joely Rodriguez to 2-year contract". MLB.com . December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  26. Polishuk, Mark (March 27, 2021). "Rangers Announce Roster Decisions". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  27. Byrne, Connor (April 12, 2021). "Jonathan Hernandez Undergoes Tommy John Surgery". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  28. Byrne, Connor (April 13, 2021). "Rangers Place Ronald Guzman on 10-Day IL, Select Adolis Garcia". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  29. Morris, Adam J. (November 5, 2021). "Terry, Guzman, Tejeda, Bush outrighted". Lone Star Ball. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  30. McCalvy, Adam (August 1, 2022). "Bush deal further helps bolster Brewers' bullpen". MLB.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  31. "Brewers DFA Matt Bush, Pannone, recall Bukauskas, Andrews". ballysports.com. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  32. "Brewers designate Matt Bush for assignment, signaling the end of a trade that never worked out". jsonline.com. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  33. "Matt Bush: Released by Brewers". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  34. "Rangers bring back reliever Matt Bush on minor league deal". ESPN.com. Reuters. July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  35. "Rangers' Matt Bush promoted, will finally play for Bruce Bochy". cbssportsharrisburg.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  36. "Bush faces several charges following arrest". ESPN.com. ESPN. Associated Press. June 22, 2004. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  37. Smith, Joe (March 24, 2012). "Rays reliever Matt Bush charged with DUI, hit and run". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  38. Herald-Tribune staff (April 10, 2012). "Matt Bush suspected in 2 hit-and-runs prior to DUI arrest". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  39. Smith, Joe (March 25, 2012). "Executive VP Andrew Friedman: Matt Bush won't play for Tampa Bay Rays again". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  40. "Rays' Matt Bush pleads not guilty in March crash". TBO. May 21, 2012. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012.
  41. Smith, Joe. Former Rays pitcher Matt Bush finalizes plea deal. Tampa Bay Times , December 19, 2012.
  42. Mooney, Roger. Ex-Rays prospect Matt Bush gets 51 months in DUI plea. The Tampa Tribune , December 19, 2012.
  43. Smith, Joe (May 15, 2013). "Civil case settled for ex-Ray RHP Matt Bush and Brandon Guyer". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  44. "Mayo Correctional Institution". Fl Dept. of Corrections. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  45. Smith, Joe (October 31, 2015). "Former No. 1 pick Matt Bush released from prison". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  46. "Former Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Bush charged with DWI after Arlington crash". FOX 4. October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  47. Salette Ontiveros, Maria (October 7, 2024). "Matt Bush, ex-Texas Rangers pitcher, faces DWI charge after crash in Arlington". The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved October 7, 2024.
Matt Bush
Matt Bush (baseball) 2017.jpg
Bush with the Texas Rangers in 2017
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1986-02-08) February 8, 1986 (age 39)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 13, 2016, for the Texas Rangers