With the likes of James Outman and Miguel Vargas on the Los Angeles Dodgers roster, Michael Busch is among the next wave of prospects expected to make an impact at the Major League level.
Busch was selected by the Dodgers with the 31st overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, and he immediately drew comparisons to Max Muncy. He primarily played first base and second base, but last year expanded to spending some time in left field and this season has logged innings at third base.
Busch had a strong showing in Spring Training and appeared to emerge as a potential dark horse to make the Opening Day roster prior to getting optioned to Minor League camp.
Now Busch is poised to join the Dodgers roster for their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates as Muncy will go the paternity list, according to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
Michael Busch will join the Dodgers in Pittsburgh, per sources, to replace Max Muncy, who is going on the paternity list.
Busch batted .337 with a .967 OPS in 21 games for OKC this season.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) April 24, 2023
Losing Muncy from the lineup takes a key contributor away from the Dodgers, but Busch has gotten off to a blistering start with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He’s hit .337/.461/.506 with eight doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI through 21 games.
Busch’s nine games at third base have all come in the past two weeks, which suggests the Dodgers had been preparing to call him up once Muncy needed to go on paternity leave.
Muncy joins Mookie Betts and Evan Phillips in going on the paternity list since last week, and reports indicate Brusdar Graterol is poised to join that group as well. The Dodgers transaction log indicates Phillips has since been transferred to the bereavement list.
Michael Busch sought to learn from Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman
While in a third Spring Training with the Dodgers this year, Busch explained he looked to learn from Betts and Freddie Freeman, among others, in how to continue developing without becoming too focused on swing mechanics once in the batter’s box.
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