Michael Busch Named 2023 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Dodgers infielder Michael Busch has been selected as the 2023 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player as well as the league’s Top MLB Prospect, Minor League Baseball announced today. Award winners were selected by voting among league managers. Busch played in 98 games with Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Dodgers infielder Michael Busch has been selected as the 2023 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player as well as the league’s Top MLB Prospect, Minor League Baseball announced today. Award winners were selected by voting among league managers.
Busch played in 98 games with Oklahoma City this season in addition to appearing in 27 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his time in the PCL, Busch led the league among qualified hitters in slugging percentage (.618) and on-base plus slugging (1.049). He also ranked second in batting average (.323), third in on-base percentage (.431), fourth in home runs (27), fifth in RBI (90), fifth in extra-base hits (57) and fifth in total bases (241).
During 2023 postseason play, Busch went 5-for-13 over three games, including two home runs, while helping Oklahoma City to its first league title since 1996.
“Every day Michael showed up and put in the time,” said Oklahoma City Dodgers manager Travis Barbary. “He’s a pro at everything he does, and it’s allowed him to handle any adversity he’s been through. He’s a special guy that makes everyone around him better.”
Busch is the first Oklahoma City player to win a league MVP award since Nelson Cruz in 2008 and the sixth OKC player to win a league MVP award during the team’s Triple-A history, also joining Dave Roberts (1965), Steve Buechele (1985), Juan González (1990) and Lee Stevens (1996).
Busch was also named the 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year and the 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America. He was one of three finalists for Minor League Baseball’s Hitting Prospect of the Year Award and was named to the All-MiLB Prospect First Team.
Originally from Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Busch, 25, played collegiately at the University of North Carolina and was selected with the 31st overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In addition to Busch, pitcher Gavin Stone was also named to the PCL All-Star Team. Over 21 games (19 starts), Stone went 7-4 with a 4.74 ERA while leading OKC in both strikeouts (120) and innings (100.2). After a bumpy start to his season, Stone posted a 2.49 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and .168 opponent batting average over the final three months of the season. In Game 2 of the PCL Championship Series, he notched 10 strikeouts over 6.1 innings to help lead the Dodgers to clinch the championship. Stone also appeared in eight games (four starts) for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season.
Stone, 24, is a native of Lake City, Ark. and was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft from the University of Central Arkansas. He was named the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
After winning the 2023 Pacific Coast League Championship, the OKC Dodgers will begin the 2024 season Friday, March 29, 2024 in Tacoma, Wash., with the home opener scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 against the Albuquerque Isotopes. For information about 2024 season ticket packages or group outings, visit okcdodgers.com or call (405) 218-2182.
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”