Catcher Bethancourt touches 95, throws eephus in blowout

The San Diego Padres were absolutely embarrassed Tuesday afternoon at Safeco Field, falling 16-4 to the Seattle Mariners for their fourth straight loss. Their only consolation on an otherwise miserable day was the revelation that Christian Bethancourt, the 24-year-old catcher acquired from the Atlanta Braves in December, may have a future in the bullpen.

After starting the game behind the plate, Bethancourt ended a wild day - that saw him play four different positions - on the mound, where he touched 95 miles per hour on the radar gun and unloaded a 53-mph eephus in the first pitching appearance of his MLB career.

Summoned in the bottom of the eighth, Bethancourt didn't allow a hit in 2/3 innings of work, though he issued two walks before being replaced by Alexi Amarista, another position player.

Bethancourt, once a consensus top-100 prospect, also spent time at left field and second base in Tuesday's shellacking, becoming just the fifth player since 1913 to spend time at all four of those positions in a game.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)