Astros' Elmore plays all nine positions in 2013

If you're going to play on one of the worst major-league teams of the past 30 years, you might as well make a name for yourself.

Houston Astros utility man Jake Elmore has done just that, appearing in center field during Tuesday's 13-2 drubbing of the Seattle Mariners. Why is that a big deal? Explain, official Houston Astros Twitter account guy!

Here's how Elmore, listed on Baseball Reference as a second baseman, shortstop and pinch-hitter (!), completed the rare achievement:

• After spending most of the first three months in the minors, Elmore came up for good in July and knocked off four positions: shortstop, second base, right field and left field.

• He had a stint at third base on Aug. 10 against the Astros, then played first for part of an extra-inning win over Oakland four days later.

• An injury to Carlos Corporan sent Elmore behind the plate in the fourth inning of a 16-5 loss to Texas on Aug. 19. Four innings later, he was sent in to pitch - and promptly recorded Houston's only 1-2-3 inning of the night.

With only one position left on his fielding bingo card, Elmore made history by taking center field in place of Brandon Barnes in the ninth inning Tuesday.

Here's to Jake Elmore, the most versatile player on the league's worst team. Let's get the guy a trophy or something.