Michael Busch

Busch was reportedly the best hitter in the 2020 fall instructional league in Arizona, which is saying a lot, even though he was one of the older true prospects taking part in instructs. The No. 31 overall pick in 2019, Busch has been limited to 10 total pro games to this point -- 15 if we count a five-game run in the Arizona Fall League in 2019. The Dodgers drafted him for his bat, as he hit an eye-popping .322/.450/.567 with a wood bat in the Cape Cod League in 2018. He is still a bat-first player all the way, with the potential for a plus hit tool and plus power but no clear defensive home. The left-handed hitter is being groomed for a multi-position role, potentially getting work at second base, first base, left field and designated hitter. Fall instructs rarely result in a prospect shooting up rankings, but that has been the case with Busch, as the dynasty community is starved for prospect intel.

A hairline fracture in his right hand limited Busch to just 17 professional games after the Dodgers selected him with the 31st overall pick. He split time between the AZL, Midwest League and the Arizona Fall League, hitting .195/.452/.268 with one home run and a 9:17 K:BB in 41 at-bats (as many walks as games). It's a tiny sample, but Busch was better the higher he climbed, logging a .327 OPS in rookie ball, a .767 OPS at Low-A and a 1.007 OPS in the AFL. A versatile defender, Busch was primarily a first baseman at North Carolina, but also saw time in the outfield and worked primarily as a second baseman after getting drafted. He obviously has a patient approach and a good understanding of the strike zone, and the hope is that he can become a plus hitter with at least above-average power. He is pretty advanced, and could split time between High-A and Double-A in his first full season.