This time last season, Matt Bush was not wasting away in Double-A. He was not pitching in Japan. He wasn'trehabbing what could have been a career-ending injury.
He was in prison.
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The Comeback Player of the Year Award is given annuallyto a player in each major league who“re-emerged on the baseball field during a given season.” This is an award meant for a player who has rejuvenatedhis career.My choice for American LeagueComeback Player of the Year did more than just turn his career around — Bushturned his life around.
Bush was drafted as a shortstop, the first overall pick of the 2004 draft,by the Padres. He wasjust 18 years old. He received a $3.15 million signing bonus. In what was perhaps an omen for the next decade-plus of his life, he was suspended before ever playing a professional game. He was arrested after abar fight andcharged with felony assault, misdemeanor trespassing, disorderly conductand alcohol consumption by a minor.
Once he goton the field, he batted just .219/.294/.276 in 259 games for Padres affiliates, none higher than advanced Single-A. ThePadres, though, saw potential in his strong arm and converted him to pitching. He showed promise early,with 16 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings,but then he tore the UCL in his pitching elbow and needed Tommy John surgery. He missed the remainder of the2007 campaign and the entire 2008 season while recovering.
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In February 2009, Bush again was facing assault allegationsstemming from another incident involving alcohol — his third to this point — and the Padres had had enough. He was designated for assignment.
The Blue Jays decided to give Bush another chance. They acquired him from the Padres for cash onFeb. 10, 2009. The organization wasbearish on its investment, however, and instituteda “zero tolerance” policy. He lasted just 50 days;the Jays released him April 1, after yet another assault incident involving alcohol.
Bush was out of baseball the entire '09season. At that point, he had squandered numerous opportunities and several “second” chances. But he was still so talented, the Rays decided to roll the dice. Theysigned him on Jan.10, 2010.
Bush pitched two seasons in the Rays' farm system.In 2011, whilepitching for their Double-A affiliate, the Montgomery Biscuits,he led the Southern League with 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings. In 2012, after beingsober for about three months, he was pitching for the big league club in spring training and showing promise ofmaking the opening day roster. He did not allow a run in four appearances.
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Then Bush wasted what seemed to be his last chance. He was arrested in Floridaafter driving drunk and running over 72-year old motorcyclist Anthony Tufanowith his vehicle, almost killing the man. Bush fled the scene, but cops caught up to him. He resisted — it took five officers to finally subdue him — andpleaded with them to just kill him. Bush was charged with multiple felonies and sentenced to 51 months in prison as part of a plea agreement.
While in prison, Bushcame to terms with his alcoholism and began to actively seektreatment.In an interview with Fox Sports while he was still incarcerated, he said, “I still have the dream of playing again. I still feel like I can play. But I clearly understand that I might have had all of my chances and opportunities already.”
At least one other man was hoping someone would give Bush a chance: Tufano,the man Bush nearly killed. “I just wish that [Bush] wouldn’t think negatively about what happened to me, realize that I don’t hold anything against him, and move on,” Tufano told Fox Sports for the same story.
Move on Bush did, and another chance he did get.
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Bush had a “tryout” for the Rangers—in the parking lot of a Golden Corral,where Matt was employed as part of a work release program. Using a parking bumper as a mound, he threw in the mid-90s.
The Rangers signed himon Dec. 18, 2015, just 110 days after he was released from prison.
On May 13, 2016, about four years since his last drink and exactly 11 years, 11 monthsand six days since becoming thePadres' shortstop of the future, 30-year old Matt Bush made his major league debut. Pitching the ninth inning against the Blue Jays in Arlington, he faced Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautistaand Edwin Encarnacion.He retired them in order and struck out reigning American League MVP Donaldson with 97.7 mphheat.
This season, pitching for the AL West champions,Bush is 7-2 with a 2.48ERA (183ERA+, 2.74FIP), a 0.941WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 612/3innings.He has thrown more than half of his pitches at least 97 mph, including a dozen at 100 mph or faster.
Matt Bush is a lot of things and has plenty of demons. He is an alcoholic, though a recovering one. He is a convicted felon, though a rehabilitated one. Thisseason he has reemerged as a baseball player, and in the process hasrejuvenatednot only his career, but also his life.
That's why Matt Bush is your 2016 American League Comeback Player of the Year.
Sporting News contributor Ryan Spaeder is the creator and owner/operator of the popular Twitter account Ace of MLB Stats (@theaceofspaeder).
