Michael Busch has had such a strange season.
Despite occasionally performing like the best hitter on a really good offensive team (and more recently, leading off more games than not), he has flown almost entirely under the radar for much of the year. I guess that’s the product of playing on a team with a lot of name/star positional players in both the veteran and rookie categories. But still.
I’m not myopic enough to completely throw away the fact that Busch is a 27-year-old, defensively sound first baseman with 27 homers, a 24.3 K%, and the same underlying metrics as both Bryce Harper and Corbin Carroll (.381 xwOBA, t-13th best in MLB). I know he’s having a great season on the whole. But that slump? That stung.
Like most of the Cubs this season, Busch had an insane start (165 wRC+, 22.6 K% through July 7) with all of the right underlying metrics to make you believe it was sustainable. And also like most of the Cubs this season, those numbers imploded over the next month (44 wRC+, 30.1 K% from July 8 through August 8).
There were still some strong indicators (for example, he was still barreling the ball up a TON). But the declining walk rate, increasing strikeout rate, and lower frequency of hard contact conspired to really sink what was pacing to be a truly incredible season.
But you saw the headline, right?
Yeah, I’m here to tell you Michael Busch’s slump is behind us. The numbers are already starting to come back around, and I think he’s only going to get better from here.
Since August 9 (128 PAs), Busch has been a league-average hitter, which is not good, but a big improvement in results. And the underlying metrics are returning in a big way.
Michael Busch Trending Up
Look at the trends in his hard-hit and line drive rates over the last few weeks:
Or to frame this a different way, let’s compare the two periods: his slump (July 8-August 8) and his slow resurgence (August 9-yesterday). Outside of his barrel rate (which is still excellent), he’s doing almost everything better, including hitting the ball hard more often, hitting more line drives, and striking out WAY less.
In fact, the most impressive gains, perhaps, can be found in his plate discipline data.
According to Statcast, and relative to his slump, the more recent version of Michael Busch is offering at far fewer pitches out of the zone, making contact with way more strikes in the zone, and whiffing way less often. That is a recipe for success. And given the heights he reached earlier this season (and last year (and throughout his time in the minors)), I believe they’re also the early signs of him returning to form.
And, hey, it is starting to show up in the results column, too, as Busch is working on a four-game hitting streak, including a double and a homer.
I still believe Busch should vacate the leadoff duties in favor of Ian Happ *when Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki are back*, but either way, it’s nice to see some signs of life. Now, we just have to hope he can keep it all together for these final two weeks of the season to hit the playoffs at the top of his game.
Hence then, the article about guess whose bat is waking up was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Guess Whose Bat is Waking Up? )
Also on site :