What to expect from Dodgers' Busch in the big leagues

The Dodgers already are giving regular at-bats to two rookie position players, James Outman and Miguel Vargas. Last week, they called up a third in Michael Busch.

The original plan was for Busch to stay with Los Angeles for the three days Max Muncy spent on the paternity list. But then J.D. Martinez was slow to overcome tightness in his lower back and went on the injured list retroactive to April 25. So Busch will stick with the Dodgers until at least the weekend.

While Busch's immediate future is a bit unclear, his long-term prognosis is promising. Ranked No. 46 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, he offers an intriguing combination of hitting ability, power and plate discipline.

Busch's offensive upside was apparent when he was Minnesota's top high school prep position prospect in 2016, though his bat stood out much more than his athleticism and he wasn't a highly regarded recruit or Draft target. That changed after he went to North Carolina and hit .282/.429/.492 over three seasons and performed even better with wood bats in the summer Cape Cod League.

Busch still lasted 31 picks in the 2019 Draft because there were questions about his defensive home. He had fringy speed and arm strength and had played mostly first base for the Tar Heels while also seeing time at left field and second base.

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Since signing for $2,312,000, Busch has lived up to expectations at the plate. Injuries to his right hand after he was hit by pitches ended his pro debut after 10 games and hampered him early in his first full pro season before he finished strong in 2021 and flourished last year. He batted .274/.365/.516 between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, topping the Minors in runs (118) and placing third in extra-base hits (70) and total bases (285), fifth in RBIs (108) and sixth in homers (32).

The 25-year-old Busch has all of the ingredients to hit for both average and power: a sweet left-handed swing, a balanced and patient approach, fine hand-eye coordination, bat speed and strength. He made a concerted effort to hit more home runs in 2022, aggressively attacking pitches earlier in counts and looking to drive them in the air. Though he did strike out 167 times in 142 games, he did continue to draw walks and display an offensive profile similar to Muncy's.

While Busch still won't wow anyone with his speed or arm, he has impressed evaluators inside and outside of the organization by working hard to improve in both areas and become an adequate defender at second base. Playing regularly at the keystone may be less realistic with the new shift restrictions, however.

Busch is better suited for first base or left field, though he made his first two big league starts in the field at third base because the Dodgers needed him there. His bat ultimately will provide most of his value, though he has more defensive versatility than initially believed.