Michael Busch is one of the top second base prospects in MLB thanks to his offensive skills, but his defensive work leaves a lot to be desired.
The 25-year-old seems best off batting in the middle of a lineup as the designated hitter, but that role isn’t available to him with the Los Angeles Dodgers this season due to J.D. Martinez being in the fold. The Dodgers have moved Busch around the field in the Minor Leagues, trying to find him a set position, and the latest attempt has come at third base.
Busch played nine games at the Minor League level before he was called up for his MLB debut last week, and then he appeared in two games at the hot corner for the Dodgers.
Without much experience at the position, Busch was told by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to keep an eye on Nolan Arenado during the three-game series against St. Louis Cardinals. Roberts’ in-game conversation with Busch was caught on camera by SportsNet LA, which led to the skipper revealing the details.
“At that moment I was talking to him, I wanted him to appreciate Nolan Arenado,” Roberts said. “And how he’s into every pitch, his pre-pitch, the glove position. And he’s not fleet of foot, but he’s one of the best defenders, not only third baseman, in all of baseball.
“And so he’s got a front-row seat to watch one of the best of all time, for me, in my opinion, defensively. So I just wanted the little subtleties that Nolan does.”
Arenado has won 10 Gold Glove Awards and six Platinum Gloves in the first 10 years of his career, which has helped make him a near lock to enter the Hall of Fame one day.
But the appreciation for other players isn’t just limited to Arenado. Roberts added that he tells his team to watch opposing players “all the time” so they can continue to learn and get better rather than limiting their knowledge to what their teammates do.
“I think that as a young player, as a veteran player, you’re always sort of caught watching your own teammates,” Roberts said. “But I think that to be able to widen your scope a little bit to watch other superstar players, it might lend better.
“And it’s just kind of an opportunity to learn and get a Ph.D. in how to defend, how to prepare. And so I do that all the time, try to encourage guys not to miss those opportunities.”
Michael Busch returned to Dodgers lineup Monday
Although Busch was recalled as a corresponding move to Max Muncy going on the paternity list, he’s remained with the team even after the latter returned. Busch started all three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates but hadn’t been in the Dodgers lineup since or appeared off the bench until the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Busch started at second base and went 2-for-4, tallying the first multi-hit game of his career.
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