Chatting with Intern Bill this morning about some overall No. 1 MLB draft picks who were epic busts. He nominated Matt Bush, the top pick in 2004 (San Diego Padres). We went with Brien Taylor, the top pick of the Yanks in 1991 who never threw a pitch in the bigs. A look at the similarities between the two.

On Sunday morning it was reported that former San Diego Padres minor leaguer Matt Bush was injured in physical altercation outside a bar near a Padres training facility in Arizona. For the former 1st overall pick in 2004, (selected in front of Phil Hughes, Stephen Drew, Justin Verlander, and Jered Weaver), this is yet another setback for the man who has been drawing comparisons to former New York Yankees farm hand Brien Taylor, who famously blew his arm out in a bar fight about 15 years ago. Are comparisons between the two players apt? Is Matt Bush the new Brien Taylor?

Because it was so long ago, it’s hard to remember just how good Brien Taylor really was. As a 20-year-old in high A ball in 1993, Taylor struck out 187 batters in 161 innings, with a very good 3:1 K/BB ratio. The next year he stuck out 150 in 163 IP, and while the high walk rate was troublesome; it was probably something Taylor would get over with experience. If the thought of the 1996-2000 Yankees dynasty makes you ill, imagine those same teams with David Cone, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, and Roger Clemens along with a young lefty throwing 96 MPH. They might still be winning titles. Or Wells and Cone would have introduced him to the NY nightlife and his career would be over. Regardless, Taylor has serious talent, talent that Matt Bush just doesn’t have.

In over 700 at bats in the low minors, Matt Bush has yet to get on base more than 33% of the time. He has hit for no power, no average, and when the Daddies tried to make a Rick Ankiel switch and turn Matt Bush into a pitcher, he threw seven innings, notched 16 strikeouts, and then had Tommy John surgery. It is impossible to express how bad of a player Matt Bush is, and we’re not going out on a limb here by saying that Bush will never see the inside of a major league clubhouse. But in order for Bush to be the next Brien Taylor, this latest injury would have to rob him of his “stuff,” effectively ending his career.

Outside of their draft status, the egregious amount of money both players earned in signing bonuses, their positions on the field, and their propensity for pugilism, Matt Bush and Brien Taylor have nothing in common, outside of being colossal busts.