Michael Busch
26-Year-Old
2024 Stats
AVG
.257
HR
20
RBI
63
R
71
SB
2
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Busch fits best defensively at designated hitter, but it's still to be determined whether his bat will produce enough value in the majors to be worth playing at the bottom of the defensive spectrum. With the addition of automated balls and strikes, the Pacific Coast League was even more of a hitter's paradise than in the past, and Busch took full advantage, slashing .323/.431/.618 with 27 home runs, an 18.8 K% and a 13.9 BB% in 98 games. In addition to the cartoonish hitting environment he played in, Busch was 25 years old, so there would be no excuse for him not to mash Triple-A pitching. Even in that juiced environment, Busch only managed a .795 OPS with two home runs in 167 plate appearances against lefties, so he may be platooned if he doesn't become passable somewhere defensively. He only got 81 plate appearances in the majors, struggling to an unlucky .167 average with 27 strikeouts, eight walks and two home runs. He is eligible at third base in 2024 but may not have anywhere to play for the Dodgers in the short term. There are some Quad-A hitter red flags, and Busch may need a trade to get a chance to show he belongs. Read Past Outlooks
Blasts off twice Sunday
Busch went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs and an additional RBI in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Rockies.
ANALYSIS
Busch was out of the starting lineup Saturday but returned with a bang Sunday and enjoyed the series finale at Coors Field. The 26-year-old reached 20 home runs for the first time in his young career, which should solidify his role as Chicago's first baseman moving into 2025 and beyond. Busch has been limited to just 80 at-bats against lefties all season, which has limited his upside to a degree, but he's still been a pleasant surprise for fantasy purposes after coming into the year with a very limited MLB track record.
Busch was out of the starting lineup Saturday but returned with a bang Sunday and enjoyed the series finale at Coors Field. The 26-year-old reached 20 home runs for the first time in his young career, which should solidify his role as Chicago's first baseman moving into 2025 and beyond. Busch has been limited to just 80 at-bats against lefties all season, which has limited his upside to a degree, but he's still been a pleasant surprise for fantasy purposes after coming into the year with a very limited MLB track record.
Batting Stats
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2024
2023
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
56
5
17
22
13
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
1
1
4
2
2
1
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
+7%
OPS vs RHP
2024
+4%
OPS vs RHP
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022vs Left | .720 | 103 | 1 | 8 | .274 | ||||
Since 2022vs Right | .767 | 505 | 21 | 62 | .239 | ||||
2024vs Left | .766 | 88 | 1 | 8 | .288 | ||||
2024vs Right | .799 | 439 | 19 | 55 | .251 | ||||
2023vs Left | .467 | 15 | 0 | 0 | .200 | ||||
2023vs Right | .556 | 66 | 2 | 7 | .158 | ||||
2022vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2022vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2022
+12%
OPS on Road
2024
+22%
OPS on Road
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022Home | .712 | 269 | 8 | 25 | .227 | ||||
Since 2022Away | .797 | 339 | 14 | 45 | .259 | ||||
2024Home | .706 | 230 | 7 | 23 | .225 | ||||
2024Away | .861 | 297 | 13 | 40 | .282 | ||||
2023Home | .745 | 39 | 1 | 2 | .235 | ||||
2023Away | .351 | 42 | 1 | 5 | .105 | ||||
2022Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2022Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Michael Busch compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.38BB Rate
11.0%K Rate
28.8%BABIP
.336ISO
.197AVG
.257OBP
.340SLG
.454OPS
.793wOBA
.347Exit Velocity
89.8 mphHard Hit Rate
30.8%Barrels/PA
6.8%Expected BA
.225Expected SLG
.434Sprint Speed
23.9 ft/secGround Ball %
40.4%Line Drive %
21.3%Fly Ball %
38.2%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
Busch emphasized his status as one of the Dodgers' most highly touted young bats by leading the organization's minor-leaguers in hits (151), doubles (38), RBI (108) and runs (118) last season while tying for lead with 32 homers. Sure, he played most of his games in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League and struck out in 26.5% of his plate appearances, but he showed improvement in that area with a 17.6% rate over his final 25 games and has consistently demonstrated patience at the plate, registering an 11.4% walk rate last season. Busch isn't going to steal many bases and is just an average defender, but his potential with the bat was enough for the Dodgers to add him to their 40-man roster in November. He should make his big-league debut sometime in 2023.
More Fantasy News
Resting Saturday
Busch isn't in the Cubs' lineup Saturday against Colorado.
ANALYSIS
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Homers in three-hit effort
Busch went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Rockies.
ANALYSIS
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Posts big line against former team
Busch went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, three total runs and three total RBI in a 10-4 win against the Dodgers on Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Taking seat Sunday
Busch is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
ANALYSIS
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Sitting versus southpaw
Busch is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could have regular role
Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers will attempt to get Busch regular at-bats after the infielder was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, reports Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.
ANALYSIS
The 25-year-old had a .561 OPS in his first 15 big-league games before being sent back to Oklahoma City in late June, but he's back with the Dodgers after J.D. Martinez landed on the injured list with a groin issue. Busch has 24 home runs and a 1.047 OPS in 88 games at Triple-A this season, and he also had a 39-game on-base streak during his most recent stint with the affiliate. Busch went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Tuesday against the Guardians, and he may need to settle in quick at the plate to have a chance of retaining his roster spot once Martinez is healthy.
The 25-year-old had a .561 OPS in his first 15 big-league games before being sent back to Oklahoma City in late June, but he's back with the Dodgers after J.D. Martinez landed on the injured list with a groin issue. Busch has 24 home runs and a 1.047 OPS in 88 games at Triple-A this season, and he also had a 39-game on-base streak during his most recent stint with the affiliate. Busch went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Tuesday against the Guardians, and he may need to settle in quick at the plate to have a chance of retaining his roster spot once Martinez is healthy.