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2004 MLB No. 1 pick Matt Bush arrested for driving under the influence after crash in Texas

Posted on by Kennedy
2004 MLB No. 1 pick Matt Bush arrested for driving under the influence after crash in Texas

Matt Bush, a former No. 1 pick in the MLB draft who played six seasons in the majors, was arrested Friday in Texas and charged with drunken driving, evading arrest and accident causing injury.

On Friday in Arlington, Texas, Bush allegedly fled from a police officer who tried to pull him over for erratic driving, and shortly afterward the 38-year-old was involved in a four-car accident, police said. Authorities allege that shortly before the accident, Bush ran a red light, collided with a truck and crashed into two other vehicles stopped at a light. No life-threatening injuries were reported to those involved in the accident.

Bush left the scene on foot and was pursued by witnesses and arrested, authorities said, and he refused to take a field sobriety test. A warrant was obtained for a blood draw while Bush was taken to a hospital for evaluation. After being cleared by medical staff, Bush was taken to Arlington City Jail on the three charges.

He was transferred to the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, where he remains as of Monday evening, according to online jail records. He is being held on $35,000 bond.

Bush, a high school star in San Diego, was selected first overall by the Padres in the 2004 MLB Draft but was suspended before his first game following a fight in an Arizona bar. He struggled in his first few years as a shortstop in the minor leagues and San Diego converted him to a pitcher, but the team designated him for assignment after he allegedly tackled two high school lacrosse players. He ended up being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, but the team released him months later after an alleged assault on a woman.

In December 2012, Bush was sentenced to 52 months in prison after being charged with three felonies for drunkenly striking a 72-year-old motorcyclist and leaving the scene of an accident. The victim, who suffered a collapsed lung and eight broken vertebrae, survived.

After he was released from prison in 2015, the Texas Rangers signed him and he made his major league debut in 2016 at age 30. He played three seasons for Texas before arm injuries halted his career, and he returned for the Rangers in 2021. In 2022, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers and after the team earmarked him to play in 2023, he re-signed with the Rangers. He made the playoff roster and although he never pitched in the postseason, he received a World Series ring after Texas defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In six seasons, Bush had a 12-11 record with a 3.75 ERA.

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