SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers frequently bring pitchers from the Minor League side to help fill the innings for Cactus League games.
On Wednesday, it will be Matt Bush's turn as his recovery from alcohol addiction and penal incarceration takes another positive step toward a happy ending.
Bush is on the schedule to pitch two innings against the Cubs in Surprise after Derek Holland gets done with his work. Holland is down for five innings and then it will be time to look at the right-handed pitcher who was signed this offseason to a Minor League contract just a few months after being released from a Florida jail.
"He has been really good on and off the field," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "He has exceeded expectations in both areas. We thought it was a good time to bring him up here to this stage."
Bush was the first overall pick by the Padres in 2004 as a shortstop who was later converted to pitcher. His career was knocked off course by his alcohol addiction and he spent over three years in jail when he almost killed a motorcyclist in a 2012 collision.
The Rangers signed him this offseason on the recommendation of Roy Silver, the Rangers' player development assistant who also assisted Josh Hamilton in his recovery.
Bush has had an outstanding camp and this is a reward.
"He has three power pitches and he commands all three," Daniels said. "He has been very impressive."
Bush is not a candidate to make the Major League team. He hasn't pitched in a game since he was with Double-A Montgomery in 2011 and the Rangers bullpen is overloaded. But the Rangers are eager to see him pitch in a Cactus League game.