The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero

The Chicago Cubs are kicking off the 2026 season with a solid roster and big expectations.

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This offseason, the team lost right fielder Kyle Tucker and surprise bullpen anchor Brad Keller to free agency. However, they brought in free agent three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, traded for emerging powerhouse starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, and restocked a depleted bullpen with four free agent relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey).

There’s so much enthusiasm with the additions to the roster that World Series talk has even begun to whirl.

But a key factor to the Cubs’ 2026 success may be a holdover from 2025—one that hardly anyone is talking about.

Michael Busch as the under-the-radar hero

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First baseman Michael Busch came to the Cubs prior to the 2024 season in a trade with the Los Angeles, along with reliever Yency Almonte. The Cubs gave up a pair of quality prospects in the deal (LHP Jackson Ferris and OF Zyhir Hope) who are doing exceptionally well in the Dodgers’ system, but nobody in Chicago is regretting the swap.

Last season, Busch established himself as a “for real” major league presence, hitting 34 home runs and driving in 90 runs with a .261 batting average, all while playing elite-level defensive first base.

ESPN is projecting him to hit 41 homers this season, something which would make him only the second first baseman in Cubs history to pass the 40-home run mark and only the tenth Cub to achieve that feat.

While Pete Crow-Armstrong is a flashier presence and Bregman is the exciting newcomer, Busch may be the glue that holds the offense together. You just wouldn’t know this from the lack of attention he gets.

Hoyer on Busch

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer recently talked about Busch’s under-the-radar presence in a Q&A with Jon Greenberg of The Athletic.

Per Hoyer:

“…The guy had 34 homers during the season, he was our best player in the postseason. He was awesome. The teams were pitching around him in the postseason. It’s who he is as a person. He’s sort of aw-shucks about how he goes about it. He’s very understated. I feel like he’s going to be on my Kyle Hendricks Mount Rushmore of low-maintenance people in the organization. He’s an awesome teammate. There’s never a negative word about him. He just goes about his business and does his thing, but in a very understated way. And I think Kyle Hendricks, for years and years, was so underrated. And then finally, I think he became properly rated. I’m hoping, for Michael’s sake, he becomes kind of properly rated at some point.”

The 28-year-old is heading into his third full season in the majors, but maybe the first year where there are some legit high-end expectations of him. But, as everyone saw from his performance in the playoffs (4 home runs in 8 games), Busch doesn’t easily wilt under pressure.

“Fell short of our goal [in 2025]… and it kind of makes us want a little more,” Busch told CBS Sports in February. “I want us to go back there again, and it kind of creates a little bit of hunger for us.”

The post The Chicago Cubs’ x-factor in 2026 may be this unsung hero appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-michael-busch-2026-first-base-jed-hoyer/