Chicago Cubs: One player has shattered expectations

Busch enters his second season with the Cubs after being traded to them from the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2024 offseason. Busch showed some promise in his first season with the Cubs, hitting .248 with an OPS and OPS+ of .775 and 118 in 152 games.

It wasn’t until this season that Busch put it all together, with President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer entrusting him to be their everyday first baseman after they traded away Cody Bellinger. Through 83 games this season, Busch has put up career highs in average (.293), on-base (.377), slugging percentage (.562), and OPS (.939), and he is on pace to set career highs in RBIs, home runs, and doubles.

Busch didn’t let his struggles in May carry over to June, which has been his best month so far, as he’s hit .309 with an OPS of 1.002 in 24 games. Busch also hit seven home runs in June, which he’s on pace to surpass this month after he hit three home runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in yesterday’s 11-3 victory.

According to Marquee Sports Networks’ Taylor McGregor, Busch has had an OPS of 1.138 since May 30, which is only lower than the New York Mets’ Juan Soto and New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, which further adds to why he is a cornerstone player.

“#Cubs Michael Busch has a 1.138 OPS since May 30. The 3rd-highest OPS in MLB over that span, behind only Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.”

The Chicago Cubs could have at least three finalists for the MVP award

PCA and Tucker will likely be in the top five or ten for the MVP voting when the season is over, but Busch is quietly putting together a resume to finish in the top ten. Busch is sixth in baseball for OPS (.919), and he has seen his average slowly get closer to .300, which will propel him higher in the voting, as it is not every day you see a first baseman hit .300 or better.

Busch could potentially be the first Cubs first baseman to hit over .300, 30+ home runs, and drive in 100 RBIs in a season since Derrek Lee did it in 2005, when he hit .335 with 46 home runs and 107 RBIs in 158 games. Lee finished third in the MVP voting for that season, and if Busch continues to get better and gets close to Lee’s numbers, he would have a strong case made for him if he could accomplish the feat.