Bush makes the pen.


Matt Bush is back. He was informed by manager Chris Woodward that he had made the Rangers opening day roster.

It’s been a while. 

He’s forever going to be known as the guy who hit Jose Bautisa before Rougned Odor did.

It was Bush’s pitch that drilled Bautista as payback for his batflip after his home run put the dagger into the Rangers playoffs the previous year that triggered Bautista to try to take out Odor at second a few batters later, that sparked the fight that was really the last time Odor hit anything with consistency.

With a fastball that topped 100, Bush worked his way into the Rangers closer role in 2017, saving ten games. Then, in 2018, he started strong but ended up tearing the UCL in his pitching elbow.

The surgery didn’t work, causing Bush to subsequently need Tommy John surgery. He would have been ready last year but COVID had other plans.

But now he is back. He might assume the closing role, or it might be a combination of him and Ian Kennedy. But this is the second great comeback of Bush’s career. At 35, it will probably be his last one.

Let’s hope he makes an impact.

But not quite like he did on Bautista back in 2016. 

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