Just How Good is Michael Busch?

[Brian Kelder]

Image courtesy of © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Cubs fans are waiting out an exceptionally cold stretch from Michael Busch, but it's one he will likely shake soon. The beginning of the season has made his incredible 2025 fade into memory. Busch, though, didn't just have a good 2025. For the season, he hit at the level of a top-10 offensive player, but he's not treated that way. 

Here are a couple of impressive lists about his offense, so we remember whom we're talking about.

Only Qualifying Players With Higher 2025 wRC+ than Michael Busch

• Aaron Judge
• Shohei Ohtani
• George Springer
• Cal Raleigh
• Juan Soto
• Kyle Schwarber
• Ketel Marte
• Pete Alonso

Only Players With Higher 2025 wRC+ than Michael Busch vs. RHP

• Judge
• Ohtani
• Springer
• Soto
• Alonso

These lists are the best of the best in baseball. According to wRC+, Michael Busch was a top-10 hitter overall in 2025. With 34 home runs, an .866 OPS and four postseason home runs, Busch shouldn't be a source of consternation among Cubs fans, or nationally—even when he's at his worst.

But offseason rankings paint a different picture. National writers didn't buy into Busch as a true top-10 hitter, and barely a top-10 first baseman. Buster Olney of ESPN, for example, rated Busch ninth at the position. MLB.com placed him ninth as well. And in fantasy baseball, Razzball placed him seventh in one list and 10th in another. He's not respected as an elite hitter or player. Maybe this slump is a reasonable reminder for us that he's actually a step below that tier.

Busch, though, is a very good player. His above-average defensive metrics this year are good evidence of that. Obviously, the bat was more than solid last season. Cubs fans should look forward to the three seasons of team control the organization still has on Busch, after this year.

What can Busch do this season to attain that respect nationally? Aside from avoiding an 0-for-30 stretch again, there are a couple of areas on which to focus.

The Dreaded Platoon
Busch has not started games against tough left-handed pitching. In the past week, Matt Shaw and Carson Kelly manned first base in those situations. Going back to 2025, Busch's OPS dropped to just .642 against southpaws, vs. .910 against righties. While he did play in 155 games, the perception of a platoon knocks his value down, and the difference in production is stark when placed side by side. He'll need to improve his platoon splits to get that level of respect. 

Defense
Busch's defensive reputation lags behind his offense. At this point, though, his production is better than that reputation, anyway. According to FanGraphs, Busch has a positive defensive value rating, which includes a big negative adjustment for position. By comparison, Gold Glove winner Matt Olson last year was barely positive in that regard. If Busch can maintain even a neutral defensive rating at first base, that would be a boon to his overall value.

Caveats abound, however. If you add an 0-for-30 stretch to Busch last year, the batting average dips to .247. He likely won't repeat his .261 from last year, but that's okay. Busch has the potential to be an All-Star, a fixture at first base that Cubs fans can be proud to watch. We'll see if he can narrow the gap between that reality and the perception of him, especially nationally, as this year unfolds.

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