After Anthony Rizzo was traded in 2021, first base has been a position with a revolving door for the Chicago Cubs. Since then, over 15 players have played in a Cubs uniform at first base. When they traded for Michael Busch in January of 2024, they hoped it was the beginning of the end of uncertainty there. So far, they’ve gotten that – and more.
Busch was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2019 amateur draft out of the University of North Carolina. Coming up through the minors with the Dodgers, he played a lot of second base. He mostly played third base when he debuted with the MLB team in 2023.
When the Cubs traded for him, the front office mostly looked at his college days defensively. They obviously saw something that made him a candidate for becoming their first baseman for a long time. So far, they’ve been dead-on.
Busch’s defense was shaky at the beginning of the year. However, it’s hard to find someone currently on the roster who has worked harder to improve his craft, and it is showing. His fielding percentage is an astounding .996 in 118 starts at first.
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Offensively, Busch has been streaky to begin his career. But when he is on, he is on. He has a .249 average with an OPS+ of 115 and 17 home runs. The Cubs certainly do better with him in the lineup than without.
Nationally, Michael Busch has flown under the radar to begin his career. Being on a .500ish team will do that to a player. But now that the Cubs are in the thick of the race to the playoffs, people are noticing how good he already is.
Michael Busch Ranks Seventh Among MLB First Basemen, Per Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report’s Walk-Off account released a list of today’s ten best first basemen in baseball. The usual suspects are on the list. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bryce Harper, and Freddie Freeman are all at the top. However, further down, the Cubs are represented by Michael Busch at seven.
Rightfully so, Busch is making his case as one of the best first basemen in baseball. He accounts for 80% of the playing time at first for the Cubs. The Cubs rank fifth in WAR at first base across the league.
When Busch is in the game playing first base and taking at-bats, the Cubs are a better team. He is often pinch-hit for in late-game situations against left-handed pitching. However, the numbers will show this as a mistake. He has a higher batting average against lefties (.273) than he does righties (.245).
Indeed, the Cubs should look to correct this going into 2025. Michael Busch will not be a rookie next year and will have a full year of experience under his belt. He’s already proving to be one of the best first basemen in the game. Yet, he’s just getting started.
