Michael Busch

Michael James Busch Bio

Michael James Busch is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was traded to the Cubs in January 2024. Busch played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was drafted by the Dodgers in the 2019 MLB Draft. He has established himself as a power-hitting corner infielder with consistent run-production capabilities at the major league level.

Early Life and Background

Michael James Busch was born on November 9, 1997. He attended Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, where he excelled in football, hockey, and baseball. Busch was ranked as the fourth-best player in Minnesota by Perfect Game during his high school career. During his senior baseball season, he earned All-State honors as one of the top players in the state. After going undrafted in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, he chose to continue his baseball development at the collegiate level.

Path to Professional Baseball

Busch enrolled at the University of North Carolina to play college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2017 to 2019. As a freshman, he appeared in 55 games and hit .215 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. He spent the summer after his freshman year playing in the Northwoods League for the St. Cloud Rox. As a sophomore in 2018, Busch started all 64 games and significantly improved his offensive output, batting .317 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs. His standout performance came during the NCAA Tournament Chapel Hill Regional, where he hit .636 and was named Most Outstanding Player, helping lead North Carolina to the College World Series. He earned All-ACC Second Team honors following the season. He then 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 his junior season, Busch received preseason All-American recognition from Perfect Game and Baseball America. In his final college season in 2019, he batted .284 with 16 home runs and 57 RBIs over 65 games.

Michael James Busch Career

Los Angeles Dodgers (2019–2023)

Considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 MLB 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. He began his professional career that same year, appearing in 10 games split between the Arizona League Dodgers and Great Lakes Loons, where he had three hits in 24 at-bats. Following the season, he played for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 minor league season was canceled, and Busch did not play that year. For the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Tulsa Drillers, where he appeared in 107 games, hitting .267 with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs while primarily playing second base. He was selected as a post-season Double-A Central All-Star and played in the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field in June. He returned to Tulsa to begin 2022 and after batting .306 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs over 31 games, he was promoted to the Oklahoma City Dodgers. With Oklahoma City, he hit .266 in 111 games with 21 homers and 79 RBIs while continuing to play second base. On November 15, 2022, the Dodgers added Busch to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Chicago Cubs (2024–Present)

Busch made his MLB debut on April 25, 2023, for the Dodgers, appearing as the designated hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 27 major league games during his rookie season, he hit .167 with two home runs and seven RBIs. His first major league hit came on April 26 against the Pirates, and his first MLB home run came on August 24 against the Cleveland Guardians. That same season, he was named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .323 with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs in 98 games for Oklahoma City, helping them win the Pacific Coast League championship. He was also honored as the MVP and Top Prospect of the PCL. On January 11, 2024, the Dodgers traded Busch and Yency Almonte to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope. During his first season with the Cubs in 2024, Busch established himself as the everyday first baseman, hitting 21 home runs and 65 RBIs with a .248/.335/.440 slash line. From April 10 to 15, he homered in five consecutive games, tying the longest streak by a Cub in franchise history. In 2025, Busch emerged as one of the top hitters in all of baseball, ranking fifth in OPS across Major League Baseball at the All-Star break with a .290/.375/.550 slash line, 19 home runs, and 59 RBIs. On July 4, he became the first Cubs first baseman since Ernie Banks to hit three home runs in a game. He finished the 2025 regular season with career highs of 34 home runs and 90 RBIs while slashing .261/.343/.523.

Playing Style and Strengths

Busch has developed into a reliable power-hitting corner infielder, excelling at first base while showing the ability to play second and third base when needed. His patient approach at the plate is reflected in his strong on-base percentages, and he consistently demonstrates the ability to drive in runs from the middle of the lineup. His defensive reliability at first base has made him a valuable everyday player for the Cubs, and his power numbers continue to trend upward with each major league season.

Notable Milestones

Busch achieved several career milestones during the 2025 season. On July 4, he became the first Cubs first baseman since Ernie Banks to hit three home runs in a single game, marking a historic franchise achievement. He finished third in Phase 1 fan voting for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, demonstrating his growing recognition among baseball fans. His 2025 season totals of 34 home runs and 90 RBIs represented significant career milestones, establishing him as one of the premier power hitters in the National League.

Michael James Busch Career Statistics

Through the 2025 season, Busch has accumulated career totals of 66 home runs and 207 runs batted in while maintaining a .246 batting average across his MLB career with the Dodgers and Cubs.

Major League Baseball Highlights

Busch’s best professional season came in 2025 with the Cubs, when he set career highs with 34 home runs and 90 RBIs while posting a .261/.343/.523 slash line. His breakthrough 2024 campaign saw him hit 21 home runs and 65 RBIs as the Cubs everyday first baseman. His combination of power and patience has made him a consistent run producer in the middle of the Cubs lineup.

Minor League Achievements

Prior to his MLB success, Busch was an exceptionally productive minor league hitter. His standout 2023 season with Oklahoma City saw him post a .323 average with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs in just 98 games, earning him Pacific Coast League MVP and Top Prospect honors while helping the team capture the PCL championship. His 2022 season between Tulsa and Oklahoma City combined for 32 home runs and 108 RBIs across 142 games.

Michael James Busch Personal Life

Busch maintains a presence on social media, with an Instagram account that documents aspects of his professional career. Beyond his baseball career, specific details regarding his personal life, family, and educational background beyond his college years remain private and are not extensively covered in publicly available sources.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented a breakthrough year for Busch as he established himself among Major League Baseball’s elite hitters. Through the first half of the season, he consistently produced at the plate, ranking among the top five in OPS across all of baseball. His three-homer game on July 4 against the Minnesota Twins became one of the signature moments of the Cubs season and solidified his place in franchise history. Busch demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the year, combining power hitting with the ability to get on base at an exceptional rate. His 34 home runs and 90 RBIs represented significant improvements over his first two major league seasons, reflecting his adjustment to big league pitching and his role within the Cubs lineup. As the Cubs push for postseason contention, Busch has emerged as a cornerstone player whose offensive production will be central to the team’s success in the years ahead.