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Chicago Cubs: a future top ten first baseman

Sunday, February 2, 2025 7:22

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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies Michael Busch MLB Network

The Chicago Cubs have a chance to finally break their playoff drought this season with all the acquisitions they’ve made this offseason.

The Cub’s two biggest additions that have helped bolster the roster going into spring training were adding both superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker and All-Star closed Ryan Pressly in trades with the Houston Astros.

Other players on the roster who have chances to be major contributors to the Cubs roster are Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki.

The Chicago Cubs future Gold Glove first baseman

MLB: Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs Sep 22, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) hits a home run against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

MLB Network recently released this list from the Shredder of the best first baseman in the game and Michael Busch was left off the list. Even though the 27-year-old was left off of this year’s list he has the potential to be on next year’s list.

The top 10 first basemen in the game, according to The Shredder!@MLBNow | #Top10RightNow pic.twitter.com/xOcrc26ucO

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 29, 2025

The Minnesota native came over to the Cubs when they traded Jackson Ferris (minors) and Zyhir Hope (minors) to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Busch and former Cub Yency Almonte. In his first season with the North Siders Busch had a respectable season by playing in 152 games hitting 28 doubles, mashing 21 HRs, having 65 RBI, for a slash line of .248/.335/.440 for an OPS and OPS+ of .775, and 118.

Busch not only showed discipline but showed he had a great eye at the plate ranking in the 84th percentile for chase percentage (23.2%) and the 85th percentile for walk percentage (11.1%) according to his Baseball Savant. Busch’s best month last season came in June when he had a line of .297/.402/.446 for an OPS of .848 with 5 doubles and 2 HRs in 25 games.

Busch also showed to be a clutch hitter having solid numbers in both the eighth and ninth innings. In 36 at-bats in the eighth Busch has a .361/.442/.611 slash line for an OPS of 1.053 and the ninth in 45 at-bats Busch slashed .289/.439/.600 for an OPS of 1.039.

For the defensive side, Busch proved to be one of the better first basemen in the league with an above-average fielding percentage of .996 (league .995). He also had a 5 for his defensive run saved according to his Baseball Reference page.

Given the keys to be the starter

MLB: Oakland Athletics at Chicago Cubs Sep 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) hits an RBI-single against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

When the Cubs traded away first baseman outfielder Cody Bellinger that sent a clear message that Busch was going to be the Cubs starting first baseman. That became clearer when President of Baseball Ops Jed Hoyer during an interview with 670 The Score stated that Busch would be the everyday first baseman.

“We see Michael as a Gold Glove first baseman,” Hoyer said. “That’s our focus. Can he move around a little bit? Of course. His versatility is great, but he made real strides at first. I thought after the first month of the season, he was fantastic at first. And that’s certainly how we’re seeing him.”

One of the more valuable options to have at first, the Cubs declaring Busch the starter can only boost his confidence and with a full season under his belt now, the third-year corner infielder looks to take big strides in 2025.

Busch is primed to breakout

MLB: Chicago Cubs at Colorado Rockies Sep 15, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) celebrates in the dugout on a solo home run in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Busch will be a valuable part of this Cubs team coming into this season with FanGraphs projecting him to be the cleanup hitter this season.

That being the case Busch will have to take a major step forward in the power department and having Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker bat in front of him should give him a lot of pitches to hit.

Busch not only is capable of winning a Gold Glove this season but also being an All-Star if all things work out.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-future-top-ten-first-baseman?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicago-cubs-future-top-ten-first-baseman

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