Brewers Acquire Right-handed Reliever Matt Bush from Rangers

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired right-handed pitcher Matt Bush from the Texas Rangers in exchange for infielder Mark Mathias and left-handed pitcher Antoine Kelly. The announcement was made by President of Baseball Operations David Stearns.

Bush, 36, has spent his entire five-year Major League career with the Rangers (2016-18, 2021-22), going 12-7 with a 3.34 ERA and 12 saves in 180 games/5 starts. All of his starts came this season as an opener. He has 188 strikeouts in 177.2 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .227 batting average.

Bush has gone 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 1 save in 40 games/5 starts this season. Opponents have batted just .199 with 45 strikeouts in 36.2 innings pitched. He has inherited 11 runners this season with none scoring. He has not surrendered an earned run over his last 12 games/2 starts (12ip, 3h, 2r, 0er, 3bb, 12k, .077ba).

Bush was the first overall selection by San Diego in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Mission Bay (CA) High School. He was drafted as a shortstop and converted to pitcher in mid-2007.

Mathias, who turns 28 tomorrow, appeared in 6 games with Milwaukee this season, including 5 starts at second base. He had two stints with the team, coming from May 24-30 and June 11-23. He made his Major League debut with the Brewers in 2020 (16 games) before missing all of last season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Kelly, 22, was selected by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Wabash Valley (IL) College. He was 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 19 starts at Class-A Wisconsin this season and was an All-Star Futures Game selection.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.