Number One Pick Coming Back
August 7, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release
Fort Wayne, IN - Matt Bush, the number one overall selection by the San Diego Padres in the 2004 June Amateur Draft, is heading back to Fort Wayne for his third tour of duty with the Wizards.
This time, Bush will be on the mound after being converted from a shortstop to a relief pitcher by the Padres organization in June of this year.
Bush reached High-A and the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2007 as a shortstop before the Padres decided to turn him into a pitcher.
In high school he went 9-1 with a 0.42 earned run average, striking out 91 batters in 66 innings.
Entering this year, Bush had a career batting average of .221 with 20 doubles, a pair of home runs and 53 runs batted in. He hit .204 with 16 walks with the Storm this season.
Bush has been working on his change of position with the Arizona League Padres.
In six relief appearances he is 1-0 with a 1.23 earned run average in 7 1/3 innings of work. He has allowed five hits, walked two and struck out 16. Bush has struck out at least two batters in each of his appearances, including four in 1 1/3 innings of work on June 26 against the Arizona League Athletics.
To make room on the roster, closer R.J. Rodriguez has been promoted to Lake Elsinore.
Entering the Wizards eight-game homestand finale against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Monday, Rodriguez was 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA and a team-best 17 saves in 45 appearances. His 45 appearances were tied with Rolando Valdez for most on the pitching staff.
In 49 1/3 innings, Rodriguez allowed 61 hits, walked 13 and struck out 43.
Bush will be with the Wizards as they embark on their second 10-game, 11-day road trip of the season which features four games against the Burlington Bees (Kansas City Royals affiliate), four against the Swing of the Quad Cities (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate) and two against the Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto Blue Jays) affiliate.
Midwest League Stories from August 7, 2007
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- Number One Pick Coming Back - Fort Wayne TinCaps
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