One of the more polarizing stories in baseball this year was sure to be whenever the Rangers decided to promote Matt Bush, whenever that time came.
Well, it's here, and sooner than many expected as he was promoted on Friday afternoon from Double-A Frisco to presumably join the Rangers' bullpen in a pretty high-leverage role with his high-90s heat and high strikeout total.
Bush was called up, partly because of Keone Kela's injury and partly just because the Rangers' bullpen has been prone to a leak every now and then. He's been electric in Frisco with a 2.65 ERA in 17 innings, in which he's fanned 18 batters and walked just four.
But that's not the whole story with Bush.
The 30-year-old was a No. 1 draft pick years ago as a shortstop, but as a prospect in the Rays' system, he was put in prison after hitting a motorcyclist while intoxicated and nearly killing the guy.
He's been a project ever since his release last year, and so far, so good for Bush since his return to the game, at least on the field.
There will undoubtedly be new pressure on Bush in the big leagues, and he'll have to find a way to handle that in a productive way, but much like when Josh Hamilton was here the first time, he's going to be watched like a hawk and has his father at his side as a kind of "accountability coach."
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Bush will take the place on the Rangers' 40-man roster vacated by Anthony Ranaudo's trade to the White Sox.
