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Matt Bush hit the high 90s on the radar gun during his Aug. 9 outing with Fort Wayne.
Unfortunately for the right-hander, that was his first – and last time on the mound for the Wizards this season.
Bush left with an elbow injury after throwing just eight pitches. It has since been revealed that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft tore a ligament in his right elbow. He will have to undergo Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery.
“He was really enjoying what he was doing. He was having some success. It was nice to see. It’s unfortunate that that happened with him and as (San Diego minor league field coordinator/special assistant to the GM) Bill Bryk has said and we’ve seen from the history of the injury, people come back throwing even harder,” Wizards manager Doug Dascenzo said Sunday.
“If that’s the case, then we are very much excited about his good rehab. It’s going to take a little bit of time, but he’s still fairly young. That’s one good thing.”
Various reports said the recovery period could take 14 months. The injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for Bush, who’s attempting to make the switch from shortstop to pitcher.
Bush, 21, played in just 21 games in 2006 with the Wizards because of a hamstring injury. He made three trips to the disabled list.
When he was healthy, he struggled at the plate. Bush batted .221 with the Wizards in 2005 and .268 during his shortened 2006 season. He began this year with San Diego’s high Class A team in Lake Elsinore, Calif., but continued to have problems at the plate. The Padres converted him to a pitcher in June.
At the Padres’ Rookie League team in Arizona, Bush was 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 7 1/3 innings. He joined the Wizards on Aug. 7 and two days later suffered the injury. He retired the first batter he faced in the sixth inning against Burlington. After the third pitch to Michael Thompson, he dropped his glove and immediately grabbed his right elbow.
“He was throwing 97-99 miles per hour in Burlington the day the injury happened,” Dascenzo said. “That’s something that’s very special. It will take a little while, but we’re anxious to get him back whenever that time may be.”
Notes:Sunday’s game against West Michigan was postponed because of rain. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 28 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The time has yet to be determined. … The Wizards open a four-game series at Dayton today. Drew Miller, Sunday’s scheduled starter, will be on the mound.
lpope@jg.net
