What to expect from Cubs' first baseman Michael Busch after a breakout 2024

A solid all-around player, Busch could be a dark-horse All-Star candidate for the Cubs this year.

Cubs 1B Michael Busch
Cubs 1B Michael Busch | Dilip Vishwanat/GettyImages

When the Chicago Cubs acquired Michael Busch prior to the 2024 season, they hoped he'd be a solid role player for them that year. The season he turned in exceeded all expectations and have Cubs fans excited to see what's next for the former first-rounder.

In his first full season in the majors in, Busch put together an extremely solid year. Busch had a slash line of .248/.335/.440, slugging 21 home runs and collecting 65 RBI. The 21 home runs for Busch were the most by a Cubs rookie first baseman since Andre Thornton hit 18 in 1975.

As good as the offensive year was, Busch turned into one of the best defensive first basemen in the league in his first full season at the position. He played the fourth-most innings at first base (1132.1) and finished T-7 in DRS (defensive runs saved) with five. He was just two DRS behind 2024 Gold Glove winner, Christian Walker.

What's next for Michael Busch after a breakout 2024 season?

Busch spent last season shuffling around in the Cubs order, most frequently hitting in the second and sixth spots. That should be a bit more consistent this season, as Busch will more than likely slot in the fifth or sixth spot in the Chicago lineup.

Busch will be behind the likes of Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and others, which should give him plenty of RBI opportunities throughout the season.

FanGraphs has Busch projected for a .248 average, 21 homers and 72 RBI in 2025. A slight increase in the RBI department but a small decrease in the average department. It would be a major surprise if Busch finished 2025 with fewer runs batted in than he had in 2024, considering the depth of the Chicago lineup.

In the advanced stats world, Busch is projected to have an OPS+ of 111. The Cubs have six players with an OPS+ projection over the league average of 100, with Kyle Tucker being the highest at 129. Busch had an OPS+ of 118 in 2024, so ZiPS also sees an overall slight decrease in production in 2025.

It is hard to see Busch struggle more in 2025 than he did in 2024, strictly due to the fact that the entire Cubs lineup has gotten better around him, and he will have more opportunities for run production and clutch hitting. With another solid defensive season and increased offensive production, we could be looking at Busch as a potential All-Star candidate come July.

Schedule