Inside The Cubs

Chicago Cubs Slugger Ties Franchise Record With Latest Home Run

Some history has been made by one of the Chicago Cubs' sluggers after he went deep in the second inning.

Brad Wakai

Apr 12, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29)
Apr 12, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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The Chicago Cubs made a trade this offseason that brought in the top prospect from one of the premiere organizations in baseball.

They needed left-handed hitting with Cody Bellinger still a free agent and unsure if they would re-sign him.

So, they acquired Michael Busch in a deal that sent out some young prospects.

That trade has worked out incredibly for the Cubs.

On Monday, the slugger tied the franchise record for most consecutive home runs when he hit his fifth in a row. He now joins Hack Wilson, Ryne Sandberg, Sammy Sosa, and Christopher Morel after he drove a ball 419 feet to center field.

Busch has taken this opportunity in Chicago and run with it.

Entering Monday's game, he already led the team in home runs with four and was second in RBI. Now, he extended his team lead to five homers and is sitting on 11 RBI with the game still taking place.

Out of the everyday players, he also leads the Cubs in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

The 26-year-old was thought to have a bright future when he was No. 1 in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system, but because of Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy being the starting first and third basemen, there was limited opportunities for him to play.

Busch won the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player award in 2023 at the Triple-A level when he slashed .323/.431/.618 with 27 homers and 90 RBI.

It has been an incredible start to his Chicago tenure, and with the franchise history he just made, it's certainly looking like he'll have a place on this roster for years to come.

Busch will have an opportunity to hold the record on his own Tuesday if he can leave the yard once again.

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Brad Wakai
BRAD WAKAI

Brad Wakai graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Journalism. While an undergrad, he did work at the student radio station covering different Penn State athletic programs like football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and other sports. Brad currently is the Lead Contributor for Nittany Lions Wire of Gannett Media where he continues to cover Penn State athletics. He is also a contributor at FanSided, writing about the Philadelphia 76ers for The Sixers Sense. Brad is the host of the sports podcast I Said What I Said, discussing topics across the NFL, College Football, the NBA and other sports. You can follow him on Twitter: @bwakai

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