As we noted in the Mesa Solar Sox update earlier today, we have an interview with rising Cubs prospect Miguel Useche. This interview was conducted by Samantha Bradfield, manager of our sister Rockies site, Purple Row, who offered to help us out. Like in our earlier interview with Kade Snell, I wrote up several questions and Sam put them into her own words, tossed in a few of her own and conducted the actual interview in Arizona.
As you can she, Sam did a great job and if you go over to Purple Row,
be sure to tell her that.
Miguel Useche has an interesting story behind him. Born in Venezuela, he moved to Florida when he was five years old. After high school, he spent a year playing for the College of Central Florida before transferring to University of New Orleans for his final three years in college. In his senior season, Useche was named to the All-Southland Conference First-Team. He also finished his time with the Privateers tied for the team record for career doubles with 54.
Despite all of this, Useche went undrafted out of college in 2024. He also didn’t get any undrafted free agent offers. Without any better options, Useche joined the Tri-City Valley Cats of the independent Frontier League to start the 2025 season. But after just 14 games there, an offer came in to join the Cubs organization. His 2025 season was cut short by injuries. But he made up for lost time this year with a good start to the season in High-A South Bend, hitting .260 with seven home runs in 42 games. That earned Useche a mid-season promotion to Double-A Knoxville, where his career took off. With the Smokies, Useche hit .300/.374/.488 with 12 doubles and six home runs over 47 games.
Useche has also had an interesting Arizona Fall League season, as Sam notes in the interview. Whereas Cubs prospects usually play for the Solar Sox, the Salt River Rafters were short a catcher for the start of the season, so Useche played for them for two games. Eventually Salt River solved their problems and Useche was returned to Mesa, where he’s playing now.
At 25 and with a stint in indy ball, Useche is certainly an older prospect with a lower pedigree. But catchers often have their own aging curve as some can take quite a while to come into their own. (Ask Carson Kelly!) Useche also has the positional flexibility to play at first base or at a corner outfield position, which could make him very useful as a major league backup catcher one day.
Here’s the audio file of her interview with Miguel Useche.
For those of you who don’t want to or can’t listen to all that, here’s a transcript:
So my first question is: You went undrafted out of New Orleans and played indy ball. Does that really drive you now that you’re with the Cubs?
It definitely drives me a little bit. I wouldn’t say it’s my main driving force. For me, it’s definitely my faith – big believer in Jesus, saved my life – so that’s the main driving force for me. But absolutely, I mean, that’s one of the main sources that I get my power from (and) my drive for.
And then you had a lot of success in Double-A with and then had a mid-season promotion. What really worked well in Knoxville? Did you do anything different?
I wouldn’t say I did too much different. I think I had success leading up to that point, so I think I gained a little bit of confidence in myself and I got kind of to a point where I really didn’t care too much about failing, so I was able to play free and it just led to more success.
And then it sounds like you’ve done some catching. You’re working in first base and in the outfield. Did the Cubs say why they’re kind of moving around you around the diamond?
Not necessarily. I played some outfield in college, too, so I kind of opened that door myself just to find versatility. I always want to win, so I want to be there for the team and be able to provide whatever I can to help the team win. So the doors opened up and more opportunities got me in the lineup more, so I was all for it.
Do you like moving around?
I’m all for it, yeah. I mean, at the end of the day, I love this game. I just want to be in every game, even if I can’t. But I just want to win, and if I can help my team win, no matter where that is, that’s what I’m all for.
What’s your favorite position?
Probably catching. It’s probably still catching. I just love being able to work on both sides of the ball, and I think it’s just a very rewarding, very selfless position. But I feel like that just describes who I am, as well, so I just love it.
What are some of your strengths as a catcher?
I think the relationships I’m able to build with the pitchers. I think that’s one of my main strengths. I think I’m able to communicate with them really well. I think my framing has really taken some steps forward in the past year, so I think those two are probably the biggest strengths for me right now.
What are you still working on?
Definitely my arm. I think my throwing could improve. My arm strength could improve. So that’s definitely going to be a main focus point, especially going into the offseason. That’s going to be a main focus for me leading up to 2027.
And in the AFL, you kind of had a unique experience. You started off with Salt River, and then you moved over to Mesa. So, how is your AFL experience overall?
I mean, I’ve loved it. I’ve loved every moment of it. I’ve built great relationships on both sides with the Salt River guys, and here with the Mesa guys now. I mean, it’s been more than what I could dream of. It’s been unbelievable.
Any particular players that you really like gravitated to, or any advice that’s really stuck out to you?
I mean, there’s a couple guys that stand out. I think [Rockies prospect] Jack O’Dowd on the Salt River side has been unbelievable up to this point. I mean, [Washington Nationals prospect Jarlin] Susana over there – what he’s doing on the mound has been unbelievable. I think seeing [Los Angeles Angels prospect] Arjun Nimmala work every day is pretty cool. [I] faced him in Double-A, so I knew he was good leading up to it, but I mean, being with him now every day has been unbelievable. And I think [Angels prospect] Jake Munroe is a little guy that gets a little overlooked a little bit, but I think he’s just a gamer. He can really go out there and perform.
And what do you want Cubs fans to know about you?
I just love to win. I love to be out there. My faith, obviously, that’s the biggest part of my life. But just that I want to win – big competitor, big gamer, and I’ll do whatever it takes to be able to win.
Useche seems like a guy you want to pull for. Anyone who hit like he did in Double-A and can catch has a chance. Thanks to him for answering our questions and another special thank you to Sam Bradfield for asking them for us!
