Dodgers News: Michael Busch Wasn’t Overly Concerned With Getting Called Back to Big Leagues
With J.D. Martinez heading to the injured list for “a couple, three weeks“, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the Dodgers recalled rookie infielder Michael Busch Tuesday. Busch has appeared in 48 games in the big leagues this season but never took off. He was averaging .200 and just 4 RBI when he was sent back to the minor leagues in June.
A trip down to Triple-A Oklahoma City has proven to revive Busch’s reliable hitting abilities. He possesses a 1.047 OPS and .615 slugging percentage, the top marks in the league and is second in extra-base hits and third in RBIs. Busch has also hit the third-most home runs in the league at 24 despite spending portions of the season with the Dodgers.
While Busch now has another opportunity to prove that he can contribute to a championship-caliber team while Martinez recovers from his nagging groin/hamstring issue. He said that he kept the big-league mentality with him while he was in OKC.
“Obviously you’ve got to put yourself in position to get called up and that’s by playing well each and every day consistently,” Busch said. “You do that by having good at-bats whether you have one hit or zero hits or four hits. I tried to – I don’t want to say stay away from that stuff but you can only control what you can control, trying to have good at-bats, make plays, help the team win games down there. Then whatever happens, happens.”
(Via The Orange County Register)
Roberts said that Busch will likely play in two of the Dodgers’ three games in Cleveland and that he will “try” to get Busch regular playing time for his upcoming stint with the team.
“Michael has earned his way to get back here, performing really well,” Roberts said.
(Via The Orange County Register)
Busch credited his consistency in the minor leagues as a reason behind his improved performance.
“Still have some games when I don’t feel the greatest or don’t hit the ball the hardest, but I feel like I was still able to get on base once or twice,” Busch said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to battle with the last couple years, more consistency. I felt like through experience and at-bats I was just pretty consistent.”
(Via The Orange County Register)
The Dodgers lost their opening game to the Guardians Tuesday night, with Busch going 0-3 at the plate with a pair of strikeouts.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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