Grand Canyon’s Homer Bush Jr. Used Trip To Cape Cod League Last Summer To Catapult Himself Into Top-75 MLB Draft Prospects

Grand Canyon’s Homer Bush Jr. Used Trip To Cape Cod League Last Summer To Catapult Himself Into Top-75 MLB Draft Prospects

When Homer Bush Jr, arrived at Grand Canyon University three years ago he was batting at the bottom of the lineup. That all changed in 2023 as he’s been the squad’s the leadoff man this season and one of the best players in all of college baseball.

 

His performance has been so good that head coach Gregg Wallis has not once considered moving the sweet-swinging base magnet from the top of the batting order.

 

While things are good now for Bush Jr, who’s dad, Homer Sr. was a member of the 1998 New York Yankees World Series winning squad, that hasn’t always been the case.

Prior to this season Bush Jr’s numbers and effect on the team were pretty minimal. In 2023 he is batting .372 with 39 RBI and 24 stolen bases. He’s also accumulated 84 hits in 226 at-bats, 17 doubles, three triples and two homers.  His glove work has been immaculate too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bush Is Always On Base

 

Only striking out 26 times, Bush Jr. has also been walked 37 times. Point blank, he’s a handful to keep off base and even more of a problem when he reaches base.

 

Those numbers have catapulted him into the Top-75 rankings of 2023 MLB Draft prospects.

 

 

Cape Cod League Was Huge For Bush Jr.

 

Following a modest 2022 season, Bush Jr. added about 10 pounds to his now 6-foot-3, 200 pounds stature.

 

He also attended the Cape Cod league last summer, where he faced top-notch pitching daily. While he definitely got off to a rocky start, he didn’t let that deter him.

 

The aforementioned Wallis, recently talked about Bush Jr, who’s one of his two star pupils along with 2023 top-ten prospect in shortstop Jacob Wilson.

 

“It started in the summer,” Wallis said of Bush. “He went out to Cape Cod (league). He struggled a little bit early but found himself. It carried over to the fall. He had an incredible fall. It moved right into the season.”

 

Bush Jr., who’s draft eligible and the No.75 ranked prospect in the upcoming MLB Draft is in his third year. He credits the change in his play and draft status to just gaining invaluable experience.

 

“Combining that with the experience I got at the Cape, and being able to make those adjustments, helped,” Bush said. “And some of the stuff I worked on with coach Jack Wilson and Coach Wallis, and the confidence they have in me, it’s been huge for my success.”

 

 

 

Bush Jr Helped GCU Land No.1 Seed In WAC Tourney

 

 

2023 has been good to the Antelopes, boasting a 36-19 record and 22-7 in the WAC conference.

 

A lot of that is a result of Bush Jr’s innate ability to get on-base, which is something Wallis and Bush Jr., discussed as the next step in his development prior to the season.

 

“Me and Homer talked before the season about getting him in more of a run-production spot this in the lineup,” Wallis said. “But he’s been getting on base so much, controlling the strike zone. With his speed, for our team, he’s the ideal lead off hitter right now.”

 

That type of production from a leadoff spot sound like something all MLB teams want at the top of their batting order. For Bush Jr. having that type of skill set and the pedigree of a former major league dad, it’s safe to say this young MLBbro is going to hear his name called pretty early in July’s draft.