Michael Busch Returns to Minnesota, Reflects on His Baseball Journey

Major League Baseball has seen a remarkable influx of talent from Minnesota's 2016 high school baseball class, and Michael Busch stands out prominently among them. This week, the Chicago Cubs player returns to his home state, bringing with him the accolades of being the reigning National League Player of the Week.

"It's just been really cool. Kinda like a little reminder of how I grew up," Busch shared, reflecting on his journey. "I played 18 years of baseball in Minnesota. Coming back, that's what it felt like. You go away and you spend time in Oklahoma and L.A. and Chicago, and you forget about it in a way. But then coming home, it's a pretty cool reminder of what childhood was like."

Busch's childhood was not solely defined by baseball; he also excelled in hockey and took on the role of quarterback for the Simley football team, which made an impressive run to the prep bowl in 2014. "It's getting to the point where it's a long time ago," he noted, now at 27 years old. "So I'm having trouble remembering most of them. But when I do see the people when I go back to my high school or something, a lot of those memories start to pop back up. A lot of good ones. A lot of great people in my life that had a big impact on me."

Interestingly, Busch's memories do not include wrestling, despite Simley's reputation as a powerhouse in that sport. "No, it is. It is," he acknowledged. "I have really good connections with some of those guys who did wrestle. My brother wrestled. It was definitely the heart and soul of Simley Athletics."

On the field, Busch has established himself as one of the premier hitters in the National League, ranking among the top five in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Remarkably, this is only his second full season in Major League Baseball, yet his swing is finely tuned. "It's felt pretty good all year. I haven't really dove into changing it too much," he explained. "I think that's sometimes how the game of baseball works. Sometimes it's just ups and downs and riding that. Been really confident with my swing since spring training."

As Busch steps onto the field against the Twins, he carries with him not just his impressive stats but also a deep connection to his roots—a blend of nostalgia and ambition that fuels his performance.