LA Angels Nick Buss making the most of opportunity

The LA Angels Nick Buss came out of nowhere in Spring Training hitting .323 and showing off a great glove in the outfield. However, with the log jam in the Angels outfield he did not make the team and was sent to the minors where he has been all season until this week.

The LA Angels have had a revolving door over the past two seasons in left field and have tried 14 different players in left. Well welcome #15 Nick Buss as he was called up last weekend when the Angels placed Shane Robinson on the disabled list.

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Buss is a 29-year old career minor leaguer who has only cracked a Major League roster once in 2013 playing eight games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that drafted him in the eighth round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of USC. In his nine seasons in the minors Buss has always performed very well hitting .289 with 69 homers and 489 RBI’s and a .344 OBP with 142 stolen bases. However in his previous trip to the Majors Buss went 2 for 19 (.105 BA) for the Dodgers before being sent back down to the minors. This season Buss was hitting .290 with six home runs and 46 RBI’s with 23 doubles and eight triples in 87 games for Triple-A Salt Lake City.

So far Buss since being called up to the Angels has done very well hitting .353 in five games (6 for 17). He has been flawless in the field not committing an error in 10 chances. Buss has shown the ability get extra base hits which is in large part a result of his superior speed and aggressiveness on the bases. Buss has three doubles and triple and almost had another one if not for a perfect throw by the Mariners Leonys Martin to nail Buss at second trying to stretch a single to a double. Is Buss the long-term solution in left, probably not, but could he be someone that could play a part in the outfield mix next season? Definitely.

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Buss has got above average speed and defensively he is a plus defender. Buss also is very aggressive at the plate and on the bases and makes good contact. Buss has not walked, but has only struck out four times. Even in his short stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 Buss struck out only once in 19 at-bats as well as walking once.

Buss reminds some people of J.B. Shuck or Reggie Willits who are both left-handed contact guys who are quick and play good defense. Both Willits and Shuck played solidly in their time with the Angels as part-time starters in the outfield. I could easily see Buss filling such a role in the future for the Angels.

Aug 15, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Nick Buss (3) follows through on a swing for an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Angels manager Mike Scioscia has been impressed so far with Buss’ play in left.

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“He (Buss) has certainly looked like he has been holding his own. He has had some good swings and has hit the ball hard,” said Scioscia in a post-game interview. “We are going to hopefully keep Nick going. He has done a good job this week for us.”

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