The Rangers are calling up Matt Bush.
Twelve years ago, Bush was drafted No. 1 overall by the San Diego Padres. Then his life spun out of control. He ended up serving three years in prison for running a man down while driving drunk. It was the last of a series of alcohol-related incidents which all but ended Bush’s baseball career before his final accident ultimately did. He was released last fall and signed a minor league deal with the Rangers, subject to serious oversight, including the requirement that his father live with him.
Bush is now 30. He’s also now a reliever. In the early going this season Bush has recorded five saves, 18 strikeouts and four walks in 17 innings with Double-A Frisco. The Rangers obviously feel that his stuff -- which was clocked at 95 m.p.h. last fall despite him being out of baseball since 2011 -- is good enough to handle the majors. They apparently feel that Bush the person is able to handle it too.
Here’s hoping.
