Bethancourt throws 2 wild pitches, gets spiked in pitching debut

This is probably not how Christian Bethancourt envisioned his debut as a pitcher.

Bethancourt, a catcher by trade, made the San Diego Padres' Opening Day roster as the first "super-utility player" in modern baseball history, and will see work primarily as a reliever this season, with some reps at other positions sprinkled in. The 25-year-old was thrown into the fire at Dodger Stadium on Monday when manager Andy Green called on Bethancourt to relieve starter Jhoulys Chacin in the fourth inning - and he promptly threw two wild pitches to allow a pair of Los Angeles Dodgers runs to score.

His first wild pitch nearly proved extra costly, as Andrew Toles spiked Bethancourt's knee while sliding into home plate with the Dodgers' eighth run. After getting a long look from trainers, Bethancourt stayed in the game, paving the way for wild pitch No. 2 and a 9-1 Dodgers lead.

Bethancourt eventually got out of the inning by getting Joc Pederson to fly out to deep left field on a 95.7-mph fastball. When his 1 1/3-inning outing was complete, Bethancourt had allowed three runs - the first earned runs allowed in his brief pitching career, including both appearances last year - on three hits, two walks, and no strikeouts. Of his 31 pitches, only three were not fastballs.