Michael Busch is showing signs of finding his rhythm at the plate for the Chicago Cubs. In Friday’s 6-5 win over the D-backs, Busch had a productive performance.
“I’m at my best when I’m able to hit the ball the other way,” Busch said, “but also pull the ball in the air with some good spin.”
Busch’s Productive At-Bats Against D-backs
Busch delivered an opposite-field single in the first inning. He later drove a double bouncing deep into Wrigley Field’s right-center-field gap. These hits suggest Busch is finding his footing, which is a positive sign for the Cubs’ offence.
One reason Chicago’s offence was so dangerous was that Busch blossomed into a legitimate power threat. He led the Cubs with 34 home runs and posted an .866 OPS.
Busch’s opening month was mostly cold this year, but no one expected that to last.
Hoerner’s Confidence in Busch
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner expressed confidence in Busch’s ability. “You look at his track record,” Hoerner said, “and who he’s always been as a hitter, and what he did the last two years for us, and I think it’s fair to expect just a lot more of a good version of him.”
Hoerner highlighted a game in San Diego where Busch connected on a 98.3 mph fastball. The result was not there, but it was a deep pulled fly ball against one of the Major League’s elite back-end arms.
Key Moments in Friday’s Game
In Friday’s win, Busch had a trio of hard-hit balls with a pair of positive results.
Hoerner led off with a double in the first inning to help set up a bases-loaded chance against Zac Gallen. Busch then attacked an elevated 1-1 fastball over the outer edge of the zone, sending it through the left side of the infield with an exit velocity of 101.6 mph.
Busch then flew out to the warning track in centre in the third after getting just under a full-count curveball from Gallen. That flyout came with a 101.7 mph exit velo. And then in the fifth, Busch drove a pitch from reliever Ryan Thompson to right-center with an exit velo of 108.7 mph.
“When I get a mistake, it’s just finding a barrel and hitting something hard somewhere,” Busch said. “The last couple weeks have been a little better for me.”
Cubs Secure the Win
Busch helped spark the first of two three-run outbursts for the Cubs. This backed a solid start from Colin Rea and overcame a comeback bid by the D-backs’ lineup.
It marked the sixth time in Busch’s career that he had at least three balls in play each having an exit velocity of 101 mph or higher. In fact, this was only the second time this year a Cubs player achieved that feat.
Busch helped spark the first of two three-run outbursts for the Cubs, backing a solid start from Colin Rea and overcoming a comeback bid by the D-backs’ lineup.