5 Chicago Cubs who could win Rookie of the Year in 2024

5 Cubs candidates for RoY in ‘24 - 3. Michael Busch

When you look at this profile, newly acquired slugger Michael Busch has all the offensive upside in the world. He did not shine in his first 72-at-bat stint in the majors. This may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as the Los Angeles Dodgers may have opted to build more around him if he had high success in the majors last season. Still, watching a few highlights shows you immediately that this guy looks to be for real, and there's no reason to believe he won't be on the Opening Day roster.

In Triple-A last year, Busch's .323/.431/.618 slash line was elite. He has superb pitch recognition, draws a lot of walks, and so far hasn't had a terrible strikeout rate. Busch can fill a hole at either 1B or 3B, so he serves as the perfect addition that gives the Cubs the option to pursue another hitter in the lineup further. His ZiPS projects him for 22 HRs and 88 RBIs, including a 2.5 WAR. He certainly has 30+ home run upside, and given what figures to be a solid Cubs lineup, those numbers are surpassable depending on where he is in the lineup.