Matt Bush moving to the mound

[homer]

2004 #1 pick Matt Bush is being converted into a pitcher. It's been a strange ride for Matt. I wonder if the pressure of being a #1 pick had a bearing on his performance:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=338

[RyDogg66]

It probably has more to do with not having the talent to have been the overall number one pick. That one still has me scratching my head.

[dadofandrew]

Wow. He may not have been a top 5 guy by talent, but he was a top 10-15...giving up on him after 2.5 years is really quick.

[homer]

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It probably has more to do with not having the talent to have been the overall number one pick.

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What I should have said was pressure of being a #1 pick when you weren't the best player in the draft.

[JoeHova]

well, I remember hearing that Bush had a great arm, so this isn't the worst idea in the world. Maybe he can make it, I know a couple guys have.

[aracko]

It would be nice to see the Brewers go after a guy with his kind of talent. I do think that I would try and convert him to Right Field before I convert him to a pitcher.

[JoeHova]

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I do think that I would try and convert him to Right Field before I convert him to a pitcher.

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Why? He hasn't hit at all yet, why move him to a spot where he'd have to hit even more in order to advance through the system?

[aracko]

Cause he can hit. he was drafted cause he has a heck of a bat along with an amazingly strong and accurate arm. He has real nice wheels. He was a 5 tool guy and by moving him to pitcher your talking about taking away a few of his tools - defense, speed, arm.

[JoeHova]

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Cause he can hit.

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well, he could hit in high school. He hasn't hit at all in the pros, and Grady Fuson is one of the best scouting directors around.

[brettac1]

He was a pure signability pick, and then he had off-field stuff right away. This is probably better for him, because he definitely can't hit.

[LouisEly]

Aracko - if you read the article, they are moving him because he can't hit. Both his OBP and SLG were under .300 as a pro - and that was in the low minors. A .571 career OPS in the low minors gets you released if you are not a high pick.

 

They are moving him to pitcher because his arm was ranked an 80 on strength. Prince Fielder was rated an 80 on hitting power, and 80 is the maximum score someone can be rated in a category. He was a two way standout (pitching and hitting) who threw 95... so back to pitching. Could still make a heck of a reliever if he can regain and refine his pitching.

 

Frankly between him and that guy Hamilton? a few years back.. I never understood why they tried to be position players because there is always a much greater need for pitching.