The Texas Rangers this afternoon announced that the club has purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Matt Bush (#51) from Double-A Frisco. To make room for Bush on the active 25-man roster, the team has optioned outfielder Delino DeShields to Triple-A Round Rock.
Bush, 30, will be in uniform tonight seeking his major league debut in the Rangers' series opener against the Blue Jays. He was the first overall selection in the 2004 June draft by his hometown San Diego Padres and began his career as a shortstop before converting to the mound in mid-2007. Bush has gone 0-2 with a 2.65 ERA (5 ER/17.0 IP) and 0.765 WHIP in 12 relief appearances with Frisco in 2016, converting all 5 save chances in his first regular season action since 2011. He has held opponents to a .158 (9-57) average with 4 walks, 18 strikeouts, and 2 home runs. Bush also made a pair of appearances for the Rangers in 'A' games during spring training.
Bush signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on December 18. He has averaged 13.3 strikeouts per 9 innings across 88.2 minor league innings in his career as a pitcher, whiffing 35.5% (131 of 369) batters faced. When he makes his major league debut, it will have been nearly 12 years since he was selected as the first overall pick in the 2004 June draft, which will surpass Josh Hamilton (7 years, 302 days) for the longest such stretch of that kind.
DeShields has batted .217 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI in 30 games for Texas this season, including a team-high 28 starts in center field. The club's Opening Day centerfielder this year, he has been on the active roster (including postseason) since the start of 2015 aside from a stint on the 15-day disabled list from June 15-July 5 last season.
With these transactions, the Rangers' major league roster is now at the 40-player limit, along with 4 players on the 60-day disabled list.