Alan Busenitz

Busenitz attended Athens Christian School in Athens, Georgia,[1] and Kennesaw State University, where he played college baseball for the Kennesaw State Owls.[2] The Los Angeles Angels selected him in the 25th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He made his professional debut with the rookie ball Orem Owlz, logging a 5–2 record and 2.33 ERA in 21 appearances. The next year, Busenitz played for the Single-A Burlington Bees, pitching to a 4–5 record and 1.94 ERA in 49 games. In 2015, the Angels tried to use Busenitz as a starting pitcher with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, but returned to using him as a relief pitcher with the High-A Inland Empire 66ers after he struggled to a 6.75 ERA in 16 contests.[4] In 2016, the Angels promoted Busenitz to the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.[5] In 10 games for Salt Lake, Busenitz struggled to a 7.62 ERA, and also logged a 1.93 ERA in 24 appearances for Arkansas.

On August 1, 2016, The Angels traded Busenitz to the Minnesota Twins alongside Hector Santiago in exchange for Alex Meyer and Ricky Nolasco.[6] Busenitz finished the year with the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League and the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, posting a 2–0 record with 10 strikeouts.

Busenitz began the 2017 season with Rochester, and pitched to a 1.25 earned run average in his first 29+1⁄3 innings pitched of the season. On June 17, 2017, he was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[7] He made his MLB debut that day, pitching 2.0 innings of 1-run ball against the Cleveland Indians. He finished his rookie season with a neat 1.99 ERA in 31.2 innings pitched across 28 contests. In 2018, Busenitz could not replicate his success from the previous year, struggling to a 4–1 record and 7.82 ERA in 23 major league appearances. He was granted his unconditional release on November 20, 2018, so he could sign with a team in Nippon Professional Baseball.

On November 20, 2018, Busenitz signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[8] In his first NPB season, Busenitz logged a 4–3 record and stellar 1.94 ERA in 54 appearances for Rakuten. On December 3, 2019, Busenitz signed a 1-year extension to remain with the Eagles.[9] By 2022, Busenitz had pitched in 165 games for the Eagles, recording a 9–8 record and 2.83 ERA in 155.2 innings pitched.

On December 27, 2022, Busenitz signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Cincinnati Reds.[10] He was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin the 2023 season, where he recorded a 1.80 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 3 saves across 15 appearances. On May 14, 2023, Busenitz's contract was selected to the active roster.[11] In 5 games for Cincinnati, he registered a 3.60 ERA with 3 strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. On September 1, Busenitz was designated for assignment.[12] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Louisville on September 4.[13] On October 1, the Reds selected Busenitz back to the major league roster.[14] He struck out two in two perfect innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in Cincinnati's final game of the year.[15] On October 9, Busenitz was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Louisville.[16] He elected free agency on October 12.[17]