The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly #8: Matt Bush

[sanjosefuji]

The Good: In 2004, the San Diego Padres selected the 18 year old, Matt Bush with the first overall pick in the MLB Amateur Draft. The Padres were so confident in his skills that they selected him in front of future MLB All-Stars: Justin Verlander & Jared Weaver. They awarded Bush with a 3.15 million dollar bonus, which until 2009 was the largest signing bonus ever given to a draft pick in franchise history.


The Bad:Bush has never played in a MLB game. In 2007, the Padres converted him from a shortstop to a pitcher. Eventually he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, who released him less than 2 months later for breaking their zero tolerance policy. Bush eventually signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization, where he's played in their minor leagues system the past four seasons.


The Ugly: Thursday afternoon, Bush hit a motorcycle from behind and proceeded to drive off without stopping. In the process of leaving the scene, witnesses say he ran over the 72 year old motorcyclist, who was rushed to a local hospital and is in serious condition. Bush is being charged with a driving under the influence and fleeing the scene of an accident.


It's this kind of story that truly makes me appreciate the things I have. I'm not a talented athlete, nor have I ever received a multimillion dollar signing bonus. And thankfully, I've never ran away from a crime scene or been thrown in jail.


Hopefully, the motorcyclist makes a full recovery from this incident. And maybe... just maybe... this is the thing that turns things around for Mr. Bush.


Happy Saturday everyone... and sayonara!

Extra Edition!

I just realized that I wrote about Matt Bush back in 2010. He was the 9th addition to my Sports Card Bust PC. If you're interested... CLICK HERE.



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[YankeeCollector]

I always thought about collecting some of his stuff, thinking he had turned himself around after signing with the Rays, but I think I will pass now. I hope the driver of the motorcycle makes a full recovery.

[sanjosefuji]

I'm lucky... I was out of hobby for several years, so I missed the Matt Bush boat. Being a Padres collector, I'm sure I would have picked up several of his collectibles back in the day... and as a result, would have regretted it.

I always thought about collecting some of his stuff, thinking he had turned himself around after signing with the Rays, but I think I will pass now. I hope the driver of the motorcycle makes a full recovery.

[OriolesFan]

Guys like that should be BANNED from any type of professional sport. Without a doubt, he is not a good image for young athletes.

[YankeeCollector]

I will never forget seeing a video of several police officers holding him against the ground. I think he was traded to the Blue Jays shortly after that incident.

[sanjosefuji]

Probably won't be playing baseball where he's going.

Guys like that should be BANNED from any type of professional sport. Without a doubt, he is not a good image for young athletes.

It's unfortunate he didn't learn from his mistakes the first time around.

I will never forget seeing a video of several police officers holding him against the ground. I think he was traded to the Blue Jays shortly after that incident.

[whitney777]

People like Bush are destroying our society