Do you know the name Michael Busch?
Busch, back in 2016, was dominating on baseball fields in Minnesota as a standout shortstop at Simley High School in the Twin Cities. He went on to star in college at North Carolina and was drafted 31st overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019.
Busch, 26, is now killing it with the Chicago Cubs. On Monday the first baseman from Inver Grove Heights homered in a fifth consecutive game, tying a franchise record.
“You hit a home run in five straight games, you take notice of it,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “He’s off to a fabulous start as a Cub. We’re grateful to have him for sure.”
Busch has played in 16 games and has entered the batter’s box 61 times. He’s left the box with a hit 17 times, including six homers and three doubles. Those power stats are fueling a tremendous slash line of .327/.410/.731 and an eye-popping 1.141 OPS.
Not bad for a guy who made his MLB debut with the Dodgers last season and wound up slashing .167/.247/.292 with two homers and seven RBI in 27 games last summer.
Busch went deep against the Padres on April 10 and then homered in three straight games against the Mariners April 12-14, and on Monday he deposited a homer into the stands against the Diamondbacks. All five homers came in road games.
More impressive is that he’s taken some nasty pitchers deep. He homered off L.A.’s Dinelson Lamet, San Diego’s Dylan Cease, Seattle’s Luis Castillo and Arizona’s Merrill Kelly.
Busch was the No. 3-ranked player in Minnesota in 2016, according to Perfect Game.
