Nicholas Gregory Buss...nicknamed "Chili"...graduated from De La Salle (MI) Collegiate High School in 2004...earned Division I All-State First-Team honors his senior season...played three seasons on the golf team...attended San Diego Mesa Community College in 2006 and earned All-Southern California and All-Pacific Coast Conference First-Team honors...played two seasons (2007-08) at the University of Southern California (USC) becoming the 109th Trojan all-time to reach the big leagues.
2017
Spent entire season with Triple-A El Paso (San Diego) after signing as a minor league free agent with an invite to spring training...Named Pacific Coast League Midseason All-Star...Hit .464 (13-for-28) in April, .350 (28-for-80) in May, .394 (26-for-66) in June and .355 (33-for-93) in July...Hit .351 (94-for-268) with 27 extra-base hits (17 doubles, 10 home runs) against right-handed pitching and .341 (29-for-85) against left-handed pitching...Named San Diego MiLB.com organizational All-Star...Won Pacific Coast League batting title with a .348 batting average... also ranked seventh in the PCL in on-base percentage (.396)...his .348 average ranked third among all of minor league baseball.
2016
Started season with Triple-A Salt Lake (Los Angeles-AL)...placed on the 7-day disabled list on May 25 with a left oblique strain...recalled by Angels on August 13 where he finished the season...recorded first major league home run August 23 at Toronto, a two-run go-ahead shot off R.A. Dickey.
2015
Spent entire season with Triple-A Reno (Arizona), hitting .297 (41-for-138) with three doubles, five home runs, 17 RBI and 23 runs scored in 92 games...placed on 7-day disabled list April 8 with right pinky finger fracture...hit over .295 for the fourth time in five seasons...played in 27 games for Culiacan of the Mexican Winter League, batting .263 (26-for-99) with two doubles, a home run and eight RBI...signed by Los Angeles-AL as a minor league free agent December 3.
2014
Split the season between Triple-A Albuquerque (Los Angeles-NL) and Triple-A Sacramento (Oakland), combining to hit .299 (162-for-545) with 20 doubles, five home runs and 68 RBI in 136 games...started the season in Albuquerque and claimed off waivers by Oakland May 4 and finished the season at Sacramento, hitting .307 (138-for-450) with 17 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 52 RBI and 79 runs scored in 110 games...ranked second in the Pacific Coast League in hits (162) and third in runs (91)...played 37 games with Culiacan in the Mexican Winter League, hitting .297 (41-for-138) with five home runs and 17 RBI...signed with Arizona as minor league free agent November 20
2013
Saw his first big league action and appeared in eight games with the Dodgers during a September call-up … made four starts with Los Angeles, including two in right field, one in center field and one in left field. Had his contract selected from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sept. 14 and made his Major League debut on that night at Dodger Stadium…entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the third inning, remaining in the game in left field, and recorded his first hit in the fifth inning with a single off San Francisco's Tim Lincecum. Batted .105 (2-for-19) in eight games with Los Angeles. Prior to his call-up, hit .303 with 17 homers and 100 RBI in 131 games with Triple-A Albuquerque to earn selections as a midseason Pacific Coast League All-Star, a spot on the postseason All-PCL Team and a selection as a Topps Triple-A All-Star. Won the June and August Dodger Pride Awards for Albuquerque. Also ranked among the league's best in runs (84, 6th), hits (139, T-10th), triples (11, 2nd), slugging percentage (.525, 4th) and OPS (.888, 5th). Hit .316 with runners in scoring position with Albuquerque (49-for-155). Following the season, played for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .301 with three homers and 22 RBI in 23 games.
2012
Led Double-A Chattanooga with 134 hits and 70 runs scored, batting .272 with eight homers and 57 RBI in 132 games. Finished the season strong by hitting .296 (73-for-247) in 69 games after the All-Star break. Had his best month of the season in July, batting .370 (37-for-100) with five doubles, 14 RBI and a .448 on-base percentage. Posted a three-hit performance in three consecutive games from May 12-14.
2011
Led Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and ranked fifth in the California League with a .328 batting average ... also ranked among the league leaders in hits (157, 8th), triples (8, 7th) steals (28, T-9th) and slugging percentage (.511, 8th). After batting .212 (14-for-66) in 17 April games, batted over .300 in each month the rest of the season. Batted .349 (97-for-278) with eight homers and 36 RBI in 66 second-half games. Ranked among Dodger full-season minor leaguers in batting average (4th), doubles (30, 5th), triples (8, T-4th) and steals (28, T-4th). Batted .366 against left-handers and hit .313 against righties. Won Dodger Pride Awards in June and also August/September.
2010
Combined to hit .264 with one home run and 48 RBI in 126 games with Single-A Great Lakes and Single-A Inland Empire. Opened the season with Inland Empire, where he batted .293 with runners in scoring position (17-for-58) and hit .330 with runners on base (30-for-91) before being transferred to Great Lakes on June 26. Batted .370 (10-for-27) with seven RBI in six Midwest League playoff games ... hit .360 (18-for 50) against lefties while with Great Lakes.
2009
Spent the entire season at Single-A Great Lakes, batting .260 (108-for-416) with 10 home runs and 63 RBI. Posted a .296 batting average against right-handers (89-for-301), while hitting eight of his 10 homers against righties. Batted .281 with runners in scoring position (32-for-114), including a .438 mark with the bases loaded (7-for-16).
2008
Made his professional debut with Rookie-level Ogden, batting .279 in 36 games for the Raptors.