Dodgers News: Muncy, Graterol on Leave From Team, Top Slugging Prospect To Be Called Up

A bit of roster movement for the Dodgers on this Monday offday.

The Dodgers daycare service continues as Max Muncy will head to the paternity list and he and wife Kellie are set to welcome their second baby this week. In his place, top slugging prospect Michael Busch will join the active roster and make his MLB debut this week in Pittsburgh.

MLB.com's Juan Toribio was among those to report the news on Twitter.

Speaking of paternity list, #Dodgers Brusdar Graterol left to Los Angeles after yesterday’s game. So add another one to the paternity list.

— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) April 24, 2023

Along with Muncy, right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol will also head back to Los Angeles as he and his Mrs, Allison, welcome their first baby. The expectation is that Evan Phillips will return to take Graterol's spot on the active roster. Phillips went on the paternity list last Thursday. 

Dave Roberts said on Sunday that he would rejoin the team on Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

When Will Max Muncy and Brusdar Graterol be Back?

Both Muncy and Graterol will likely miss the Pittsburgh series and rejoin the roster on Friday back in Los Angeles on Friday as the team comes home for a 6 game homestand.

Who is Michael Busch?

Michael Busch is the number 4 prospect in the Dodgers' system and number 48 on the MLB Pipeline. The left-handed hitting slugger is tearing the cover off the ball, hitting .337 with a .967 OPS in 102 Triple-A at-bats this season. Last year he paced the organization with 70 extra base hits between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.

He was a first round pick (31st overall) out of the University of North Carolina in the 2019 MLB draft.

Where Will He Play for the Dodgers?

He's played mostly second base since being signed out of North Carolina in 2019, but he's also seen time in left field, first base, and most recently third base for the first time in his pro career.

For the Dodgers, he could see time in left field but there's also the possibility that Miguel Vargas slides over to third base and Busch plays at second base. Considering the prospect will likely just be up with the big club for the series in Pittsburgh, he could also start in place of Vargas to give the rookie a game off which will allow Dave Roberts to get the maximum amount of left-handed bats in the lineup.