Riders Matt Bush promoted to Texas Rangers

FRISCO, TEXAS (May 13, 2016) - The Texas Rangers promoted Frisco RoughRiders reliever Matt Bush directly to the Major Leagues on Friday. Bush, the first overall pick from the 2004 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, aims to make his Major League debut for the Rangers, who host the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at Globe Life Park in Arlington at 7:05 p.m. Bush is the 142nd former RoughRiders player to make the big leagues.

Bush, 30, is with his fourth organization and has spent the first month of this season with the RoughRiders. In 12 relief appearances, the righty has a 0-2 record, a 2.65 ERA, and is a perfect 5-for-5 in save situations. Bush has struck out 18 of 63 batters faced (29%), walking only four in 17.0 innings of work. He has allowed nine hits and five runs, all earned, while opponents are batting just .158 against the San Diego native.

Originally drafted first overall by San Diego in 2004, Bush spent four years in the Padres organization, one year with the Toronto Blue Jays but did not play, and two years in the Tampa Bay Rays system. After four years out of baseball, Texas signed Bush as a free agent on December 18, 2015.

Bush joins three former Riders who have made the Major Leagues for the first time this season: Nomar Mazara (2014-2015 with Frisco, debuted with Texas Rangers), Brett Nicholas (2013 with Frisco, Rangers), and Cody Ege (2015 with Frisco, Miami Marlins).

The Riders continue an eight-day, nine-game road trip on Friday in a doubleheader against the Corpus Christi Hooks at 5:35 p.m.

The RoughRiders return back home on May 20 for a four-game homestand. Tickets for all games during the homestand and the rest of the season are available now online at RidersBaseball.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (972) 731-9200, or in-person at the RoughRiders box office. The RoughRiders host 70 games through Labor Day, September 5.

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 11 seasons (2005-2015). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju. The new ownership group, together with the city of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements over the past two seasons, investing over $7 million in wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including the new state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store, and the newest and biggest creation, the 174-foot Choctaw Lazy River. The improvements made prior to the 2015 season earned the Riders and the City of Frisco "Best Ballpark Renovation" of 2015 by Ballpark Digest. More than 130 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, and C.J. Wilson as well as current Rangers stars Derek Holland, Rougned Odor, and Mitch Moreland. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Nathan Barnett at (972) 334-1976 or via e-mail at [email protected].

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