© Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
UNC Baseball Alum Activates 'Busch-Whacking' in Home Run Streak
Now a Windy City slugger, former UNC baseball standout Michael Busch has smashed a homer in four straight games.
Most UNC baseball fans have fond memories of Michael Busch smashing home run balls during his days in Chapel Hill. And it appears the former Tar Heel is starting to help make those same memories for fans of the Chicago Cubs.
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The 6-foot-1 infielder, who played three seasons at UNC from 2017-19, has put together a streak of four home runs in four days over the Cubs' recent road trip along the West Coast.
Despite only three home runs in 107 career plate appearances prior to his recent run of homers, Busch has caught fire in recent days in his first season as an everyday player in the majors.
Busch rocketed a 405-foot home run in Wednesday’s loss to the San Diego Padres, before following that up with a 406-foot blast in the Cubs' next game against the Mariners. The slugger added another on Saturday before extending his streak with a 437-foot rocket in Sunday’s victory.
Through 15 games to open the season, Busch is currently batting .327 and has hit five home runs while leading the team in both categories. He’s also recorded 11 RBIs on 16 hits in the young season that’s seen the Cubs start 9-6.
In his three seasons in Chapel Hill, the 26-year-old hit .282 while recording 174 hits, 32 home runs, and 142 RBIs for his college career. He then opted to declare for the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft , where he was a first-round selection to the Los Angeles Dodgers with the No. 31 pick.
After making his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2023, he signed a one-year contract worth $740 thousand to join the Cubs prior to this season.
Busch will look to extend his streak to five when the Cubs head down to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks at 9:40 p.m. ET Monday.
Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI for more updates on former UNC players and other Tar Heel news.