Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Explains Shocking Michael Busch Decision

The slugging prospect was sent back to Triple-A this week.

Exactly one month ago today, the Dodgers signed infielder Kolten Wong to a minor league deal after he was released by the Seattle Mariners. At the time it seemed like another organizational depth move, but after the club sent top hitting prospect Michael Busch to Triple-A over Wong on Friday, it raised some eyebrows around the team.

Busch wasn't getting too much playing time with LA but the thinking was that his standout season at AAA Oklahoma City surely earned him an extended big league opportunity. Instead, he was the odd man out when slugger J.D. Martinez was activated off the injured list.

On Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained what went into the move.

"With Michael and where he's at in his career, he needs to play. And I understand that you want to be in the big leagues because there's no better place to be. But you know, if something does happen, he's a viable option. So to play third base every day, second base, to take those at-bats, it's important. And there's some things that I think he can continue to work on and as far as Kolton, he understands the role of you start, you don't start, you come off the bench and I do think that his swing is much more equipped to coming off the bench and not playing every day. So that's kind of the thought behind it. But again, if something does happen, then Michael has put himself, you know, at the forefront of that conversation."

Since re-joining the Dodgers late in August as Martinez first went on the IL, he picked up just 30 plate appearances while starting in just 6 of 16 games.

At this stage of the season, playing time was going to be sparse for the 25-year-old infielder. So, instead, he gets back with a AAA team that's in the hunt for a Pacific Coast League championship in 2023.