North Carolina Professional Athletes

Michael Busch Gets Paid

A breakout season in Chicago has a price tag now. Michael Busch, the former UNC first baseman, landed a $5.4 million contract with the Cubs — a clear signal that the organization sees him as part of its core heading into 2026–27, even after a disappointing postseason exit.

The Cubs were swept out of the NL Wild Card Series by the San Diego Padres, a "futile hitting effort" that ended Chicago's October before it really began. Busch was in the lineup for both losses: he went 1-for-4 with a walk in Game 1 on October 1, and drew another walk in Game 2 on September 30 as the Cubs fell 8-0. Neither performance was the kind of moment that makes highlight reels, but the contract signed in this window speaks louder than two tough playoff games.

Busch finished the regular season hitting .242, recorded across a September 27 win over Boston that saw Chicago take a 6-2 decision — one of the brighter send-offs to the regular season for a Tar Heel who has steadily established himself as a legitimate big-league bat at first base.

The $5.4 million deal reflects that trajectory. It's the kind of number that comes to a player who has earned his roster spot without yet crossing into star-tier territory — a reward for consistency and a bet on continued growth.

Thornton Celebrates, Criswell Keeps Rolling

Busch isn't the only UNC product who spent this week inside an MLB dugout. Trent Thornton, the Chapel Hill-bred right-hander also on the Cubs roster, hit a birthday milestone on September 30 — a fun footnote to a Cubs week that was otherwise defined by playoff disappointment and roster planning.

Out in Seattle, Cooper Criswell continued his quiet, effective work for the Mariners. The UNC alum tossed a clean inning of relief against the Angels on September 27 in a 7-3 Seattle win, maintaining a 3.32 ERA on the season. Criswell has been a reliable backend arm for the Mariners all year — not the name anyone is putting on a billboard, but the kind of contributor that keeps a pitching staff functional through September grind.

The Bigger Picture

North Carolina's MLB footprint is genuinely wide. Between Busch anchoring first base in Chicago, Criswell eating innings in Seattle, and a roster depth that includes names like James Triantos, Kane Kepley, and Alex Madera also in the Cubs organization, the Tar Heel pipeline into professional baseball remains one of the more productive in the ACC.

For UNC fans, Busch's contract is the headline that matters most this week — validation for a player who came up through Chapel Hill and has now cemented himself in a major market. The Cubs may have lost in the Wild Card, but they're clearly not losing faith in their former Tar Heel.

Two Tar Heels, one horrifying moment — and the Chicago Cubs may be paying for it deep into October.

On Sunday, Sept. 20 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Michael Busch checked his swing on a Luis Mey pitch in the fourth inning and fouled the ball directly into the face of teammate Alex Bregman, who was standing in the on-deck circle. Bregman, a fellow UNC alum, immediately covered his face and jogged toward the Cubs dugout bleeding. He did not return to the game.

The Cubs won 9-1, keeping themselves atop the tight NL wild card race — but the cost was steep. Tests revealed that Bregman had suffered facial fractures, with the ball striking him just below his right eye. Bregman later posted a gruesome photo to Instagram showing the extent of the injury. Cubs manager Craig Counsell called it a "terrible accident" and offered a concerning update following the Reds series, noting Bregman had been sent to a local hospital for further evaluation.

With Chicago in the thick of a playoff race, the timing could hardly be worse. Bregman is one of the Cubs' most critical bats, and his availability for the stretch run — and any potential postseason — is now in serious question.

Busch, for his part, hasn't let the incident derail his own contributions. The first baseman collected hits in multiple games against Miami and Boston in the days following the incident, and was actually named a Cubs "Hero" in their victory over the Reds on the very day his foul ball sent Bregman to the hospital. Over the week, he recorded hits in three of four games with plate appearances recorded, hitting .243 at his peak and showing consistent on-base production with multiple walks.

Aaron Sabato Gets His Moment

While the Busch-Bregman story dominated UNC's MLB week, Chapel Hill sent another alumnus to the big leagues. First baseman Aaron Sabato was selected by the Minnesota Twins to cap the final week of the regular season, with the club designating catcher Alex Jackson for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot. Sabato made his major league debut against the Giants — a fitting if brief reward at the end of a long climb through the minors for the former Tar Heel slugger.

Around the Horn

Landen Roupp's season came to a quiet close as the Giants shut down the right-hander, making him the last remaining Opening Day roster player standing in San Francisco — a small footnote to an otherwise turbulent year for the club.

Zac Gallen continued to struggle, logging just one inning in Arizona's Sept. 26 win over San Diego while his ERA sat at 6.07. Sports Illustrated floated his name as a Cardinals offseason target despite the rough numbers — a sign that his pedigree still commands attention even in a down year.

Brendon Little pitched a clean inning for Toronto on Sept. 26, striking out one, though his 6.35 ERA reflects a difficult season for the Blue Jays reliever. Cooper Criswell worked in and out of high-leverage spots for Seattle, posting a 3.40 ERA across multiple appearances during the week.

For Tar Heel fans, though, this week belongs entirely to Busch and Bregman — two Chapel Hill products whose careers briefly and painfully intersected in a moment no one will forget.