Matt Bush, who the Texas Rangers signed this offseason, threw 97 mph on the mound for the club on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs.

Bush threw two hitless innings, striking out two batters, walking one.

"As good as stuff as we've seen in camp," Jeff Banister said. "Explosive fastball, kept it down to both sides of the plate, breaking ball at the knees."

Bush, 30, was drafted first overall by the San Diego Padres in 2004. He last put on a Major League uniform in the spring of 2012 with the Tampa Bay Rays.

"Very exciting," Bush said Wednesday. "I had thought about it. It's been a long time since I've been in a major league spring training and was just happy to have that opportunity again. I was excited all day today. It came up pretty fast, but once I got out there I felt comfortable."

Bush spent 3 1/2 years in prison after a drunken driving incident that nearly killed another motorcyclist.