As the Cubs embark on a new campaign with a new manager (Craig Counsell) at the helm, we answer 24 of the most pressing questions for the 2024 season.

One of the fun parts of a new MLB season is attempting to predict the year ahead.

And one of the best predictions to make is trying to project which players will make a leap and break out.

The 2024 Cubs have a roster packed with established players, but there are still guys who have yet to prove themselves at the big-league level.

Here are a couple options leading into the new season:

Michael Busch

The Cubs acquired the 26-year-old from the Dodgers in January and immediately tabbed him as their projected first baseman for the 2024 campaign despite just 27 career MLB games.

Busch was drafted out of the University of North Carolina 5 years ago and while he’s a bit older by prospect standards, there’s good reason. The year after he was drafted, the pandemic sapped the minor league season.

In 2021, Busch spent the whole year at the Double-A level and spent most of 2022 at Triple-A. 

The problem wasn’t a lack of production, it was simply that the Dodgers were jam-packed with proven talent. Last year, Freddie Freeman played nearly every day at first base, Max Muncy locked down third base and J.D. Martinez settled in as the DH. 

That didn’t leave much playing time for Busch, whom the Dodgers deemed expendable this offseason, especially after they picked up Shohei Ohtani.

Now is the time for Busch to prove himself in the majors after accomplishing all he can in the minors. 

In 98 Triple-A games last year, Busch hit .323/.431/.618 (1.049 OPS) with 26 doubles, 27 homers and 90 RBI. He also boasts a career .390 OBP and .919 OPS in 357 minor league contests.

That performance has earned him a spot on top prospect lists the last few years, including No. 43 on Baseball America’s list entering the 2024 season.

The Cubs were open about their search for more left-handed bats this offseason and Busch fits the bill. They’re confident he will hit against righties and at least be able to form a platoon at first base. 

The Dodgers experience wasn’t all bad for Busch; it actually taught him a lot about what it takes to win at the big-league level.

“Just being around a lot of those guys who have won World Series and won a lot of games and done a lot individually,” Busch said. “Learning a lot just watching the way they go about things each and every day and the way they love the game of baseball and play hard. All the little things that go into winning.”

I predict that type of perspective will serve Busch well and he’ll not only turn in a breakout season but also settle in as a fixture in the Cubs lineup for years to come. – Tony Andracki

Seiya Suzuki

Over the final two months of 2023, Suzuki showcased why the Cubs spent nearly six figures to bring the slugger over from Japan. He was one of the best hitters in all of baseball and showed a potential to carry an offense.

So, yes, in a way, picking Suzuki as a breakout candidate in 2024 might seem like a cop-out answer. But the slugger has yet to put together a full season of results in his first two years in America.

Two seasons ago, he dealt with a rushed Spring Training due to the lockout and his late signing after it. Then he dealt with injuries that limited him to 111 games. Last season, an oblique injury kept him out of the World Baseball Classic and out of the first two weeks of the season. He was behind the 8-ball, struggled at points in the season and was benched after the trade deadline before his resurgence.

“I didn’t have that much time [to ramp up] these past few years,” Suzuki said through interpreter Toy Matsushita.

This year has been his first normal, real Spring Training and he’s picked up right where he left off last season. He has 4 home runs, is hitting .429 and has a 1.388 OPS this spring.

“I’ve been able to work on what I need to do and improve my game,” Suzuki said.

That kind of performance can be a game-changer in the Cubs’ lineup.

Part of the reason the Cubs were OK playing the waiting game on Cody Bellinger and even potentially letting him leave this offseason was a player like Suzuki. If he can put together a full season, it’s the type of bat that can take an offense to the next level.

A healthy, full season of Suzuki can be the ultimate difference-maker for the Cubs’ offense. – Andy Martínez

24 for ’24 series

What are the Cubs expecting from Kyle Hendricks in 2024 and beyond?
What role will Drew Smyly fill on the 2024 Cubs?
How will Jameson Taillon fare in Year 2 with Cubs?
How will Shota Imanaga handle the adjustment to MLB?
Who will DH for the Cubs?
Who is the Cubs’ fifth starter?
Will defense once again be the Cubs’ strength?
Can Seiya Suzuki pick up where he left off? 
What are the Cubs’ long-term plans at first base?
Have the Cubs done enough to address their left-handed hitting?
Will Justin Steele replicate his stellar 2023 season?
When will Pete Crow-Armstrong be up with the Cubs in Chicago?
Will Adbert Alzolay be Cubs’ closer again?
Who will hit leadoff?
How will Christopher Morel fare at third base?
How is the Cubs’ bullpen shaping up?
What will Year 2 look like for Dansby Swanson with Cubs?
What will the 2024 Cubs Opening Day roster look like?
How will the Cubs’ catching situation shake out?
Which Cubs prospects will we see in Chicago this season?
Who will be surprise contributors for Cubs this season?
What effect will new manager Craig Counsell have on this team?