Michael Busch Bio
Michael James Busch (born November 9, 1997) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Dodgers.
Drafted as a top prospect out of college, Busch quickly developed into one of the most productive hitters in the Dodgers farm system before earning a call-up to the majors. After a brief stint in Los Angeles, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in January 2024, where he has since become an everyday presence in the lineup.
Early Life and Background
Busch attended Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, where he was a multi-sport athlete playing football, hockey, and baseball. He was ranked as the fourth-best player in the state of Minnesota by Perfect Game and earned All-State honors during his senior baseball season. Despite that recognition, he went undrafted in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
Coming from a Minnesota upbringing, Busch grew up around a strong baseball culture and balanced multiple sports before concentrating on baseball. His profile as a power-hitting infielder was already drawing attention from professional scouts during his high school years.
Path to Baseball
Busch enrolled at the University of North Carolina, where he played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a freshman in 2017, he appeared in 55 games, hitting .215 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. After the season, he played in the Northwoods League for the St. Cloud Rox to gain additional experience.
His breakout came as a sophomore in 2018, when he started all 64 of North Carolina’s games, batting .317 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs. He batted .636 during the NCAA tournament’s Chapel Hill Regional and was named the Most Outstanding Player, helping lead North Carolina to the 2018 College World Series. He was also named to the All-ACC Second Team. Following the season, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Chatham Anglers, where he batted .322 with six home runs in 27 games and was named to the All-Cape League Team. Prior to the 2019 season, Busch was recognized as a preseason All-American by outlets including Perfect Game and Baseball America.
Michael Busch Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, Busch was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 31st overall pick. He signed with the Dodgers on July 5 for a $2.31 million bonus and split his first professional season between the Arizona League Dodgers and Great Lakes Loons. Following the season, he played for the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League, but he did not appear in a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Tulsa Drillers of Double-A. In June, Busch was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field. He appeared in 107 games for the Drillers, hitting .267 with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs while primarily playing second base, and was selected as a post-season Double-A Central All-Star.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2022–2023)
Busch returned to Tulsa to begin the 2022 season and, after batting .306 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs over 31 games, was promoted to the Oklahoma City Dodgers. With Oklahoma City, he hit .266 in 111 games with 21 homers and 79 RBIs, continuing to develop at second base. On November 15, 2022, the Dodgers added Busch to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
In 2023, he was optioned to Oklahoma City to begin the season and was selected as the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .323 with 27 home runs and 90 RBI in 98 games, helping Oklahoma City win the Pacific Coast League championship. He was honored as both the MVP and Top Prospect of the PCL. He was called up to the majors for the first time on April 25, making his debut as the designated hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 27 major league games that year, he hit .167/.247/.292 with two home runs and seven RBIs. His first major league hit was a single off Johan Oviedo, and his first MLB home run came off Gavin Williams of the Cleveland Guardians on August 24.
Chicago Cubs Era (2024–Present)
On January 11, 2024, the Dodgers traded Busch and Yency Almonte to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope. From April 10 to 15 of that season, Busch homered in five straight games, tying the longest streak by a Cub. He spent most of his time at first base, playing only 18⅓ innings at second and third base combined, and finished the season with 21 home runs and 65 RBI while slashing .248/.335/.440.
Busch finished third in Phase 1 of fan voting for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. On July 4, he became the first Cubs first baseman since Ernie Banks to have a three-homer game. At the All-Star break, he was slashing .290/.375/.550 with 19 home runs, three triples, 15 doubles, 45 runs on 87 hits, and 59 RBI, with an OPS of .925 that ranked fifth in Major League Baseball. He ended the 2025 MLB Regular Season with a career-high 34 home runs and 90 RBI, slashing .261/.343/.523.
Driving Style and Strengths
Busch is recognized for his left-handed power and plate discipline, particularly against fastballs in the strike zone. His ability to play multiple infield positions has added value to his profile, though he has settled in primarily at first base with the Cubs. Working closely with the Cubs’ coaching staff, he has continued to refine his approach against breaking pitches and high-velocity arms.
Notable Events and Milestones
Busch’s most memorable moments include his first MLB hit off Johan Oviedo, his first MLB home run off Gavin Williams, and a five-game home run streak in April 2024 that tied a Cubs franchise record. He also joined Ernie Banks as the only Cubs first basemen to hit three home runs in a single game, accomplishing the feat on July 4, 2025.
Michael Busch Career Wins
While Busch’s professional resume is centered on offensive production rather than a traditional win-loss record, his major achievements include the Dodgers’ Minor League Player of the Year award, the Pacific Coast League MVP, and the PCL Top Prospect honor, all earned in 2023. He also helped Oklahoma City capture the Pacific Coast League championship that same year.
Minor League and Major League Highlights
Busch’s standout minor league campaign came in 2023, when he hit .323 with 27 home runs and 90 RBI across 98 games for Oklahoma City, earning him three major organizational awards. His transition to the majors produced a slower start with the Dodgers in 2023, but he broke out with the Cubs in 2024 and 2025, highlighted by 21 home runs in his first Cubs season and a career-high 34 home runs with 90 RBI in 2025.
Other Performances
Earlier in his career, Busch was named to the All-Cape League Team in 2018 after starring for the Chatham Anglers and earned All-State recognition in high school. His collegiate accolades included All-ACC Second Team honors in 2018, a Most Outstanding Player award at the Chapel Hill Regional, and a trip to the College World Series.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Busch’s 2025 campaign with the Chicago Cubs established him as one of the most productive power hitters in the National League. He opened the year with consistency at the plate and reached one of the most significant milestones of his career on July 4, when he became the first Cubs first baseman since Ernie Banks to hit three home runs in a single game. His strong production through the first half placed him among the leaders in fan voting for the All-Star Game, where his .925 OPS ranked fifth in all of Major League Baseball at the break.
Busch continued to produce at a high level throughout the summer, providing middle-of-the-order production and reliable defense at first base. His blend of extra-base hits, on-base skills, and run production made him a key part of the Cubs’ lineup on a daily basis.
He closed the 2025 regular season with career highs of 34 home runs and 90 RBI, slashing .261/.343/.523. The season cemented his role as an everyday player for the Cubs and positioned him as a cornerstone of their infield moving forward.