Padres' Bethancourt ends hybrid experiment, to pitch full time in minors

The San Diego Padres' grand hybrid experiment with Christian Bethancourt is no more.

Bethancourt - a catcher by trade - drew significant buzz when he made the Padres' Opening Day roster as a hybrid pitcher/infielder who could help on both sides of the ball. But after showing he has a long way to go as a big-league pitcher, Bethancourt was removed from the 40-man roster last week. Thursday, he was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso, where he'll ditch his catcher's gear and begin a proper full-time conversion to pitching.

Although Bethancourt was given the chance to return to his roots behind the plate, both he and the Padres believe pitching is his best role going forward, making the decision to continue his conversion at Triple-A an easy one.

"We thought the opportunity to face an advanced level, rather than a lower level or more pitching-friendly environment (could work)," Preller told Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday. "He'll get a chance to face the next-best league to the big leagues. It's going to be a test for him, but I'm confident as far as him going out and being able to perform.

"He looks at it and says he wants to get better at this (pitching). We're going to be supportive of him in whatever he wants to do."

San Diego chose to convert Bethancourt and experiment with him as a two-way player after the 25-year-old Panamanian flashed a plus fastball and didn't allow a run in two mop-up mound appearances last year. It was a different story in 2017, however, as big-league bats feasted on Bethancourt's limited arsenal. In just 3 2/3 innings this year, he pitched to a 14.73 ERA and 3.82 WHIP while walking eight and striking out just two batters.

Bethancourt also made one appearance in the field this year at second base, and went 1-for-7 with three strikeouts as a hitter.