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Tar Heels in the MLB Postseason

As the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs commence, nine former North Carolina players appeared on rosters across the league this year, but Michael Busch stands as the lone alumnus advancing to October action. The Chicago Cubs first baseman reached the big leagues in April 2023 following a selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2019 draft, eventually producing a stellar 2025 campaign featuring 34 home runs and an 16th-place finish in National League MVP voting.

Although his power output dipped to 20 home runs in 2026, he maintained a strong 13.0 percent walk rate while playing in all 160 contests.

Busch carries notable playoff momentum into the opening round after a brilliant postseason debut last autumn where he batted .296 with a 1.128 OPS, including four total home runs across the Wild Card and Division rounds. The former Tar Heel standout will look to replicate that success when he steps into the batter's box for tonight's playoff opener against the San Diego Padres.

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