Matt Bush put together a very impressive outing in his first appearance since being released from prison.
Bush, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the San Diego Padres in 2004, pitched two hitless innings for the Texas Rangers in a spring training game against the Cubs on Wednesday. He struck out two and walked one, throwing 16 strikes in 25 pitches.
Bush also touched 97 mph regularly with his fastball and hit 98:
MATT BUSH, Inn2:
Federowicz: 94B, 96 (F7)
Szczur: 77, 79, 96B, 96B, 96 (F7)
Kawasaki: 97B, 97B, 97B, 98B (BB)
Vosler: 78, 77, 97B, 78 (K)— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) March 23, 2016
Bush signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers in December. The former top prospect was released from prison on Oct. 30 after spending nearly three years behind bars for a DUI hit-and-run charge after he injured the person he hit.
The San Diego native had a history of legal troubles throughout his baseball career, including three DUIs, an incident where he beat up high schoolers, and multiple bar incidents, as well as his hit and run that resulted in his prison sentence. Bush also was kicked off stage at a strip club the same day he committed his hit and run DUI.
Bush first tried to make it in pro ball as a shortstop, but he switched to pitching after hitting just .219. He was successful pitching in rookie ball, but he had a 4.83 ERA as a reliever in Double-A back in 2011 as a member of the Rays organization.
Bush will be an intriguing player to follow this spring training.
