Rangers call up Matt Bush seven months after release from prison

The Texas Rangers took a risk in the offseason by signing former No. 1 overall pick Matt Bush just weeks after his release from prison after serving 34 months in Florida for nearly killing a man while driving drunk in 2012.

Bush has rewarded the Rangers by staying sober and out of trouble and pitching well for Double-A Frisco early in the season. Now the franchise that has helped Josh Hamilton succeed in the big leagues with a history of drug abuse, is adding Bush to the major league roster in hopes that he will shore up the bullpen and continue to make the most of what is well beyond a second chance.

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Just seven months ago as the Rangers competed in the 2015 postseason, Bush was prisoner No. C07392 of the Florida State Department of Corrections. Now, after a strong spring and 12 appearances with the Roughriders — in which he has gone 0-2 with five saves, a 2.65 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 17 innings — he has another opportunity.

Bush, now 30, throws hard and regularly reaches the upper 90s with his fastball. He hasn’t always been a pitcher. When he was drafted first overall by the Padres in 2004, he was a shortstop. Texas is the fourth MLB franchise to employ Bush. He previously wore out his welcome with the Padres, Blue Jays and Rays after run-ins with the law that usually related back to his drinking problem.

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Texas has taken steps to help Bush remain sober, including provisions in his contract requiring it and also requiring his father, Danny, to live with his son, monitor his curfew and take him to 12-step meetings.

It seems to be working well in the early going and the team feels comfortable enough in the process that it is allowing Bush to finally realize his major-league dream. But it’s doubtful anyone in the franchise will be completely comfortable when it comes to Bush for some time to come. Remember that even Hamilton had a relapse in the offseason between the 2014 and 2015 seasons while he recovered from shoulder surgery.

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Kyle Ringo is a contributing writer to Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo