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Michael Busch, IF
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Scouting report
It's been hard to get a concrete feel for where Busch will end up playing defense because he's missed game reps due to the pandemic and a 2019 hand injury. It makes sense for the Dodgers to keep working with him at second base, just in case he can get good enough to actually play there some of the time. I did not have an extended look at him in the Fall but the scouts who did think he could eventually be passable there, but definitely not good, much like Tommy La Stella. Busch played the keystone for an extended stretch on the Cape in 2018 but spent his career at North Carolina playing mostly first base and some corner outfield, and those are the two positions pro scouts think he'll move to if second doesn't work out. But most importantly, Busch really hits, and is probably an everyday player even if he ends up mostly playing left field. He's patient, tracks pitches well, and has big, strength-driven power. I consider Busch a high-probability big leaguer who could have some years of star-level WAR output if he can play second semi-regularly. (Alternate site, Fall Instructional League)