Michael Busch joined the Chicago Cubs before the start of the 2024 MLB season after being deemed surplus to requirements in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization. However, he needed just two years to become not only one of the best first basemen in the National League but in baseball as a whole.
Busch has played at least 150 games in his first two seasons in the Cubs organization. The star first baseman enjoyed an excellent season in 2025, and that durability is a plus asset since he’s a lock to be in the lineup almost every day. After all, fantasy baseball is a volume game, and not many first basemen are capable of playing 150 games in back-to-back seasons.
He saw improvements from 2024 to 2025 from a statistical perspective as well, with increases in his average (.248 to .261) and on-base percentage (.335 to .343), but his slugging percentage took a decisive step forward. He went from slugging .440 in 2024 to .523 in 2025, ranking among the league leaders in that category and second among first basemen, behind only Pete Alonso.
There was some concern with Busch toward the end of last season, as his OPS dipped after the All-Star break compared to a .925 mark in the first half of the campaign. But because he is a disciplined hitter who also provided elite defensive work at first base, the Cubs didn’t think about sitting him even when the offense was slumping. Don’t expect that to change in 2026, especially since the Cubs don’t have a lot of depth at the position.
Michael Busch’s Fantasy Baseball Strengths and Weaknesses
From a fantasy perspective, there aren’t many players who could be considered decidedly better than Busch, regardless of whether you’re playing in a roto or points format. His slugging ranked second at the position in the 2025 season, and while there could be some regression expected there, few first basemen have access to as much power as he has.
Combining that power stroke with a disciplined approach at the plate that has translated into an above-average walk rate (9.5% in 2025), Busch has all the tools to be a regular first baseman to anchor your fantasy lineup. While it’s hard to imagine him putting up a batting average above .270, nothing limits Busch from continuing to hover around the .260 mark if he stays healthy and sees over 550 plate appearances as he has in the past two seasons.
Busch isn’t going to provide a lot of stolen bases (six combined over the past two seasons), but that’s maybe the only area in which he’ll fail to contribute on a steady basis. With that not being a requirement to excel at the position, the damage done is minimal. He should hover around the .265 average with an OPS well north of .800, a feat a select group of first basemen managed to accomplish in 2025. The power numbers should stay consistent as well and could easily reach the 30-homer mark again in 2026 after posting a career-best 34 in 2025.
All signs point to Busch being a strong contributor among first basemen in the National League again in 2026.
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