Poll: Who’s The Bigger Draft Bust, Matt Bush or Donavan Tate?

There is no question that Matt Bush is a total draft bust for the San Diego Padres. The first overall draft pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft never made it to the Big Leagues, and vastly under performed in the Minors.

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Despite his inability to live up to his full potential, it was stupid off-the-field issues, mainly run-ins with the law, that gave Bush the “draft bust” label.

Thanks to Wikipedia, here is a list of Bush’s wild off-field antics:

-Weeks after being drafted by the Padres, Bush was arrested on suspicion of felony assault. misdemeanor trespass, disorderly conduct, and underage drinking, after he allegedly fought with security trying to get him out of a bar.

-In 2009, Bush was allegedly involved in a drunken assault at a San Diego High School, which was caught on camera. According to witnesses, a drunken Bush beat up a high school lacrosse player with a golf club screaming “I’m Matt Fucking Bush,” which was recorded on video tape. This incident lead the Padres to designate him for assignment then trading him to the Toronto Blue Jays soon after.

– On March 22, 2012 Bush was arrested in Florida and charged with two counts of DUI with property damage, one count of DUI with serious bodily injury, one count of leaving the scene of an accident with an injury, one count of driving with a suspended license, and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with damage to property. In the incident, Bush is to have alleged hit a 72-year-old motorcyclist, running over his head as he fled the scene with a truck belonging to a teammate.

-Matt Bush is currently serving a 51-month prison sentence after agreeing to a plea bargain in the March 22, 2012 incident.

Not only did Bush cause a lot of disgrace to the Padres organization with his ignorance, he also drained away the first overall pick in the draft.  With the first pick in 2004, the Padres could have selected anyone they wanted that year. And I mean ANYONE!

The pickings that year included MLB stars Justin Verlander, Jared Weaver; and All-Star pitcher Phil Hughes. Hell, even the respectable Homer Bailey and Stephen Drew where there for the taking.

God knows any of these guys would have completely changed the Padres’ fortune and where a much better pick than Bush. But the Padres settled on the Mission Bay High School star for financial reasons.

However, Bush is not alone in owning the “draft bust” title. It turns out he has some competition. Donavan Tate, the No.3 pick  in the 2009 MLB Draft  has done a lot of dirty work in trying to lay claim to the prestigious “draft bust” crown.

The most recent news surrounding Tate came last Friday when it was reported that the 22-year-old was not expected to report to spring camp for what was deemed as “personal reasons.”

What personal reasons is Tate going through? That remains to be seen, but fans and some media experts have speculated that it could include Tate failing a drug test – again.

The outfield prospect has had his fair share of troubles too, which has hindered him from showcasing his full potential.

These issues include:

• In 2009, Shortly after being drafted, Tate suffered facial lacerations and broke his jaw that required surgery in an ATV accident near his home in Georgia.
• In 2011, Tate was suspended for 50 games for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy after testing positive for synthetic cannabis.
• According to ESPN.com, it was his second positive test since receiving a $6.25 million signing bonus after being drafted.

The youngster furthers his cause for being the organization’s biggest “draft bust” because the Padres invested a $6.25 million on the two-sport star from Catersville High School in Cartersville, Ga. The $6.25 million signing bonus remains a club record for a draft pick.

Aaron Crow, Mike Minor, Mike Leake, Jacob Turner, Drew Storen and some guy named Mike Trout were all drafted in the first round after the Tate selection. Now just close your eyes and imagine the Padres selecting anyone of these six guys instead of Tate. Again, how the Padres fortunes would be so different.

Those players mentioned are already proven to be better picks than Tate.

Now I ask you Padres fans, who is the biggest first round bust between Bush and Tate? Let us know why you voted the way you did in the comment box below.