Matt Bush: Biggest Draft Day Bust Ever

The Arizona Rookie Baseball League is about as low on the minor league totem poll as you can get.  The league is usually reserved for recently drafted players who scouts still have questions about and minor leaguers coming off surgeries and other various injuries.  However these days, The Arizona League is home to 1st pick overall in the 2004 MLB Draft, Matt Bush.  Bush, who is changing positions from shortstop to pitcher, is trying to avoid the title he would garner if his pitching career falters: biggest draft bust in the history of sports.  Darko is crossing his fingers.

There are a lot of different factors when determining if someone is a bust and Matt Bush passes each test like he’s Jason Giambi with a container of his gardeners’ urine.  Take a look at all the characteristics a draft bust has to have:

Too Much Hype:  Can the #1 pick have much more hype?  San Diego thought he was a can’t miss guy, and they had a 3.15 million dollar signing bonus that backed up that belief.  Many of their scouts said that Bush had one of the best arms they’ve ever seen on a shortstop.  Scouts guaranteed he’d be an All-Star caliber shortstop or second basemen who would win gold glove after gold glove.  Unfortunately, Bush fielded .940 during his minor league career, causing these scouts to admit that while they couldn’t judge talent, they did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Character Issues:  A couple weeks after signing for 3.15 million dollars, Bush (18 years old) and his older brother snuck him into a bar in San Diego.  When it was reported to bouncers that he was underage, they attempted to escort him out of the bar.  Unfortunately for the bouncers, they didn’t peg young Matthew as a biter, which is something you should always assume.  Two chews on the bouncer’s left arm later and the cops were called.  After a brief struggle with the cops, Bush was arrested and then suspended by the Padres.  While that was his only arrest, I think you can consider his hitting .221 with 2 HR and 53 RBI’s in 624 minor league at-bats criminal as well.

Guys Drafted Behind You Much Better Then You: 
Let’s see here:
Justin Verlander (Rotation Tigers)
Huston Street (Closer A’s)
Jered Weaver (Rotation Angels)
Hunter Pence (ROY Candidate Astros)
Dustin Pedroia (2B BoSox)
Jeremy Sowers (7-4 last year for Indians)
Bill Bray (2 full MLB seasons already for Wash and Cinci)
Billy Butler (LF KC)
Stephen Drew (SS D’backs)
Josh Fields (3B ChiSox)
Chris Iannetta ( Catcher Rockies)
Glen Perkins (Bullpen Twins)
Taylor Tankersly (Bullpen Marlins)
Yovani Gallardo (Brewers Top Prospect)
Phillip Hughes (Yankee’s Top Prospect, Rotation when healthy)
Philip Humber (Mets Top Prospect)
Jeff Niemann (Tampa’s Top Prospect)
Homer Bailey (Reds Top Prospect)

This of course is just guys who have already played in the Majors already, and I didn’t even list some guys who’ve already had a cup of coffee in the bigs like Danny Putnum and Zach Johnson. Then if you count all the guys who are all-stars in AA and AAA and are probably a year or two away from the show, and Matt Bush has to be the greatest draft disaster ever. 

When Darko busted, he at least was still a rotational guy in the NBA.  He’ll be in the league another 8-10 years.  Matt Bush is risking being only the third #1 pick in the MLB draft to never play in the MLB.  Steve Chilcott (1966) and Brien Taylor (1991) both didn’t make it to the show due to career ending injuries, but if Bush doesn’t make it, it will be strictly about talent.  And that’s what makes him so unique: guys like Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith and Michael Olowokandi aced their “minor league” tests.  The only difference is that in those sports, college is their minors.  Even Major League Baseball draft busts like Matt Anderson, Paul Wilson, and Al Chambers at least made it through the minor league gauntlet and had a few years playing at the top level. 

There is hope yet.  As a converted pitcher, Bush has not allowed a run in 4 appearances.  He has showcased that bionic arm he’s known for, pitching in the mid 90’s and even touching 98 a couple of times.  Unfortunately he’s already had arm problems and is currently sitting out for a week.  If his pitching career takes off, then forget you ever read this article.  But if not, the next conversion Matt Bush makes will be from pitcher to Pros vs. Joes.

Violent J

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