The Cubs certainly seem to have found their next Anthony Rizzo.

Since the Cubs traded the face of the franchise in the summer of 2021, they have had a revolving door at first base.

Frank Schwindel had a great run at the tail end of 2021, but he couldn’t find the same footing in 2022.

The Cubs have also cycled through the likes of Alfonso Rivas, Jared Young, Eric Hosmer, Trey Mancini, Patrick Wisdom and Matt Mervis at first base, but none have stuck at the position long-term. The team had to move Cody Bellinger from center field to first base down the stretch last year to try to improve production at the position (and get Mike Tauchman’s bat in the lineup on a daily basis).

When Jed Hoyer’s front office pulled off a trade with the Dodgers just before the Cubs Convention in January, they believed they had their new first baseman.

It was an interesting choice initially. Michael Busch had mostly played second and third base coming up through the Dodgers system. He had only made 17 starts at first base in his professional career — and none in the big leagues.

Yet the move has worked out fabulously for Busch and the Cubs this season.

Busch has been credited with 10 Defensive Runs Saved this season by FanGraphs, which is tied for 10th among all MLB players – regardless of position.

[Evaluating Michael Busch’s Rookie of the Year chances]

He is 1st among all MLB first basemen, ranking ahead of the Gold Glover at the position the last 2 seasons (Arizona’s Christian Walker – 7 DRS).

“Michael’s done a tremendous job since the start of Spring Training,” Craig Counsell said. “He’s worked hard at it and I think he’s improved greatly at it. First base is a position that asks things of you that you just can’t practice. You have to make decisions and you have responsibilities that just don’t come at the other positions. And so you really have to be out there.

“And I think the experience of Michael being out there largely every day have really helped him and made him more comfortable with the position.”

Busch feels the same way, echoing his manager’s sentiment.

“I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable with reps,” he said. “I kinda knew that would be the case.”

Busch credits his teammates and coaches with helping speed up his development at the position in-season. Working with a pair of Gold Glovers in shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner has certainly helped along with coach Jonathan Mota.

Every day, he’s working at the position.

“It’s just little things – a mindset or being aggressive but not too aggressive,” Busch said. “Learning from those and going back in and looking at the iPad or seeing what Mota thinks of certain plays.

“Talking through situations I’ve accumulated throughout the course of the season. But there’s still gonna be plays I haven’t really come across that are gonna happen. No matter which way they go, just learn from them.”

It’s not crazy to think Busch could win a Gold Glove over at first base someday — and it could happen as soon as this season. Walker has taken home the last 2 accolades but he’s on the IL right now and expected to miss at least a couple more weeks.

[WATCH: Carter Hawkins revisits Busch, Imanaga moves that brought rookies to Chicago]

As Busch continues to gain comfort at the position, his impact defensively might continue to grow.

That defense has helped boost Busch’s overall value to the team, as well.

The rookie leads the Cubs in WAR by Baseball Reference’s metric with 3.0, ahead of Shota Imanaga (2.5) Seiya Suzuki (2.5) and Ian Happ (2.1).

The 26-year-old Busch is under team control through the 2029 season, so it certainly appears as if the Cubs have finally found that stability at first base.