In Michael Busch’s first at-bat Monday night against the Angels at Wrigley Field, he walked on four pitches that didn’t come close to the strike zone.
After a breakout 2025 season that saw Busch finish third among first basemen in homers (34), seventh in RBI (90) and second in wRC+ (140), he has earned that respect from pitchers because they know he capitalizes on mistakes. So far this season, Busch has maintained his productive ways at the plate.
Busch isn’t the showman Pete Crow-Armstrong is, nor is he the Cubs’ clubhouse leader like Dansby Swanson or the All-Star like Alex Bregman. He’s an unassuming player who lets his game speak for itself — and it’s loud.
“He was the best first baseman in baseball last year,” Crow-Armstrong told the Sun-Times before the Cubs’ 7-2 victory. “I know you still got [Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman] and [Orioles slugger Pete Alonso]. But last year, I don’t think there was a better first baseman in baseball.”
Busch fits in with the measured and workmanlike group that team president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has assembled. The Cubs traded left-handed pitching prospect Jackson Ferris and outfield prospect Zyhir Hope to the Dodgers for reliever Yence Almonte and Busch before the 2024 season.
At the time of the trade, Busch was the Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com, but was blocked from regular playing time because of their star-studded cast of future Hall of Famers at first and second base, and the designated hitter spot.
With regular playing time, Busch has flourished in Chicago. And now, after manager Craig Counsell said he’s going to use him more against left-handers, he’ll have even more responsibility, and Busch should fare well. He already sets the tone for the team as the leadoff hitter, even though he doesn’t fit the prototypical model of one. Crow-Armstrong said jokingly that Busch is “lacking a little bit of speed.”
“I love him in the leadoff spot,” Crow-Armstrong said. “His ability to get on base, and especially when he’s hot, makes things feel like an event.”
He’s a selective hitter with plus power and rarely chases. Crow-Armstrong lauded Busch for his work in the batting cages, saying that the first baseman works at a “very controlled level,” and that when the tempo speeds up in the game, he’s prepared for it.
“[Busch] knows what he can handle, and he does a really good job of swinging at the pitches that are right for him,” left fielder Ian Happ told the Sun-Times. “It’s not as easy as it sounds to do that. On Opening Day [Busch reached base four times and was 3-for-4 with two doubles] his ability to control the zone and get the pitches that he wanted to hit was impressive.”
Busch has room for improvement on defense. He graded out in the 36th percentile in outs above average.
“Think just being a little more efficient in all areas,” Busch said. “Especially [with] my footwork over at first, which is one thing that I want to take pride in, making sure I’m really comfortable with how I’m getting to the base, working around the base.”
But if Busch’s 2025 performance is his floor, the Cubs are in a good spot. He doesn’t garner the recognition of his teammates, but they understand Busch’s importance to the lineup.
