The Chicago Cubs took a bit of a gamble on Michael Busch.
Prior to the 2024 season, the Cubs traded two very well-regarded lower-level prospects– pitcher Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope– to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Busch and reliever Yency Almonte.
Busch was also a well-regarded prospect at the time, but he was considered a jack-of-all-trades infielder without any place to play on the loaded Dodgers major league squad. The Cubs, meanwhile, had him pegged as their first baseman of the future, despite never having been a full-time first baseman at any level he’d played.
That gamble has paid off.
Michael Busch Has Become A Top-Tier First Baseman
Mar 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) beats a throw to Chicago Cubs first base Michael Busch (29) for an infield RBI single during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The 27-year-old has worked his way into a spot as one of the better first baseman in the league, after a rookie year that saw him take huge leaps in development, almost immediately.
With the bat, the left-handed hitting Busch has also shown progression from a very solid rookie year.
So far the season, he’s slashing .306/.375/.583 with 4 home runs and 13 RBIs in just 21 games.
And while former Cubs prospects Ferris and Hope are doing really well for themselves in the Dodgers farm system, Busch’s development and his easing into recognition as a top-tier first baseman makes the losses a mere side note.
“He’s making such good decisions at the plate, he gives himself a chance every at-bat and he’s looking to do damage, which I love,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told media this past Tuesday, after a red-hot 8-for-19 West Coast road trip that saw Busch hit three home runs and drive in 6 runs. “He’s looking to drive the baseball, and I think that started to show up on the trip and hopefully keeps it going.”
No Regrets
Busch’s offensive prowess, paired with some outstanding defensive performances, has been eye-pleasing. It’s been so pleasing that that no attention has been given to the six-home run season start for former Cubs top first base prospect Matt Mervis, who was traded to the Miami Marlins for utility infielder Vidal Brujan this past offseason.
Busch is taking his success in stride and working with the understanding that baseball is an up-and-down game where long-haul focus is the secret to long-term success.
“When you’re getting pitches to hit and you’re hitting them and you’re putting them forward, usually good things happen,” Busch told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday. “When things don’t go well, just kind of looking back and maybe instead of it being a swing adjustment or mechanical change, it’s more of getting somebody in the zone and not missing a pitch.
“For me being confident enough to, no matter who’s on the mound, I’ve got a pretty good chance, but also being humble enough to understand that the guy might have it that day and he might be spotting up and he might be nasty, and just trying to maybe simplify things a little more, but playing that game throughout the season is definitely important.”
Under-The-Radar is Just Fine
In Thursday’s wild 13-11 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, Busch went 3-for-5 with an RBI, overshadowed by flashier performances from Carson Kelly, Kyle Tucker, and Ian Happ.
In a lot of ways, Thursday’s game was a microcosm of the 2025 season so far, with Busch happily and productively performing while others drew most of the attention.
It could definitely be argued that this dynamic works to Busch’s benefit as the pressure also shifts to those garnering all the attention and he can focus on just becoming a better ball player.
Whatever the case, so far, so good
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