Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Believes Michael Busch is a Major League Player
Over the years, the Dodgers have developed one of the best farm systems in all of baseball, and it has helped them stock talent each season. But with such a strong system. there will always be those who get left out in the dark with there not being enough room on a roster.
One of those prospects that has seen some issues finding a spot is infielder Michael Busch, who finally made his major league debut this past season. The problem with Busch isn’t his talent level, but rather his consistency. He hasn’t shown that he can be a consistent hitter at the big league level yet, which is a problem for the LA.
But despite this, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that he believes Busch is a major league player.
“(Busch) showed very clearly that he doesn’t belong in Triple A, that he’s a major-league player.”
Per Andrew Friedman via The Athletic
Last season with the Dodgers, he appeared in 27 games, hitting .167 with two home runs and seven runs batted in. He couldn’t figure out the speed of the big league game, and it hurt him during his stint with the team.
But he showed that he is more than capable of producing while in Triple-A, hitting .323 with 27 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Busch sits in a weird spot between being too good for the minor leagues, but maybe not good enough to make it in the big leagues — at least on the Dodgers’ roster.
He is also 26 years old, which also doesn’t help his case. Busch feels like a prime trade candidate either this offseason or at the trade deadline.
If he isn’t moved this offseason, L.A. will need to figure out where he fits. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said earlier this winter that the team may look into trying him out in the outfield, and this could open up more opportunities for him this coming season.
The team does value flexibility from their players, so if Busch is able to make the transition, it would be huge for his role on the team. The hope is that Busch can be a producer for this Dodgers team next year, and he would give them a nice left-handed power bat off the bench.
He got his first chance in the big leagues, and now he understands what it takes to stay there. This offseason is going to dictate a ton for him, and hopefully, he can improve his consistency for this coming season.
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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That is a problem with many AAA players in the Dodger’s organization. You can’t let these guys from ages 25-28 keep playing at the AAA level if they do not belong there. The Dodgers need to either use them or trade them for pitching and let them prosper with their careers on other teams in MLB.
Agreed. In fact, I’d rather the Dodgers try and move Muncy and Taylor to open up spots for Busch / others. Does the re-signing of Hudson potentially block Kyle Hurt? Makes no sense.