Michael Busch was named Minor League Player of the Week in the Pacific Coast League after posting a ridiculous .500/.533/1.077 slash line while going 13-for-26 for Triple-A Oklahoma City. MLB's No. 40 overall prospect notched a hit in all six games he played in last week -- collecting a trio of three-knock games along the way -- while recording three home runs, a triple, four doubles, three walks, 11 RBIs and seven runs scored.
"I think it’s just consistency for me. I struggled with that a little bit in the past and I just try to stay consistent. You know, you’re going to have your downs. You’re going to have your ebs and flows, just trying to bounce out of those as quick as possible," Busch told MLB Network's Adnan Virk, Cliff Floyd and Xavier Scruggs. "I think it’s worked out for me a little bit."
The third-ranked Dodgers prospect has proven to be a model of consistency this season for OKC. Busch sports a .313/.428/.540 slash line with seven homers, a pair of triples, 15 doubles, 38 RBIs and 39 runs scored over 45 games.
"There are big things and little things. I think the little things for me is just having a routine on the on-deck circle, but also in the box," Busch told Virk, Floyd and Scruggs. "You know, whether you’re 0-for-4, or 3-for-4 or 4-for-4, you’re just doing the same thing every time. For me, I feel like when I get too comfortable sometimes I start to chase a little more. So, whether it’s good or bad, just trying to stay consistent and, you know, just trying to have a routine.
"Just trying to stay in that same zone."
The 25-year-old stayed in the zone on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with a dinger, a triple, four RBIs and three runs scored against the Bees. He's also provided versatility throughout the infield, starting 22 games at third, 19 games at second and three games at first this year, posting a .957 fielding percentage across those 44 games.
"It's been fun to just kind of bounce around," Busch said. "I think that’s been the ingredient for the Dodgers the past five or six years. They have guys who can just bounce around the infield, you know, give a guy a day off or bounce in there when somebody gets hurt or whatever it is. I think it only can help.
"I think right now I probably feel more comfortable at second. But, I’ve been playing a lot of third base lately and just getting more comfortable as the weeks go by. I think it just comes with reps and playing over there and getting all kinds of hops and all kinds of situations, everything."
Busch was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2019 Draft by the Dodgers. The sweet-swinging left-handed bat slipped due to concerns about where he would line up defensively. The Dodgers are glad he did.
With his smooth left-handed stroke, patient approach at the plate, good balance, advanced hand-eye coordination, bat speed and strength, Busch is equipped to hit for both average and power. He put an emphasis on the latter in 2022, more aggressively attacking pitches early in counts and driving the ball with authority to all fields. He continued to draw walks and displayed an offensive profile similar to that of Max Muncy, though Busch is a better pure hitter.
The Minnesota native made his Major League debut on April 25 and has appeared in seven games with Los Angeles this season.
"The Dodgers are so good. I'm just staying ready for whenever my name is called to go up there and help them, and I think that’s all I can do," Busch said. "Things sometimes don’t go the way that we want them to, but at the end of the day we’re here to help the Dodgers win and I’m gonna try to stay ready for whenever my name is called and get to step on that field again."