Dodgers' Busch clubs pair of home runs
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Michael Busch has spent the last season plus 12 games with Double-A Tulsa. His performance makes it likely his time in the Texas League could be nearing an end.
After homering and tallying three hits on Wednesday night, baseball's No. 66 overall prospect left the yard twice more on Thursday in Tulsa's 9-6 loss to Springfield. It was the second multihomer performance in eight games for Busch, who's up to five homers and 13 RBIs on the season.
The 24-year-old wasted no time in the first inning, jumping on the first pitch he saw for another opposite-field home run to left-center field. Busch was at it again in the third, again taking the first pitch out of the yard, this one to right-center field. The Minnesota native also walked for the 11th time in his first 55 plate appearances, improving his on-base percentage to .473.
Overall, Busch is batting .333 with a 1.211 OPS and seven extra-base hits through his first 12 games. The University of North Carolina product put together a solid campaign in 2021, slashing .267/.386/.484 with 48 extra-base hits, 20 homers and 67 RBIs in 107 games. His first two-homer game came on April 13 when he equaled a career high with six RBIs.
"Staying the course is the name of the game," Busch told MLB.com after his first multihomer game of the season. "I just want to be as consistent as I can be, on both sides of the ball. Last year was a roller coaster ride of sorts, but I learned a lot. I'm looking forward to carrying that over to this year."
Busch was helped out offensively by fellow prospects Andy Pages and James Outman. Pages, the 67th overall prospect in baseball, doubled and singled in four at-bats. Outman, the No. 17 Dodgers prospect, hit his third home run of the season, all of which have come in his last four games.
Cardinals No. 25 prospect Delvin Pérez singled three times, stole three bases and scored twice. Moisés Gómez chipped in with his seventh homer of the year and finished a triple shy of the cycle for Springfield.
Freddy Pacheco, St. Louis' No. 29 prospect, picked up his third save with a perfect ninth, striking out one.