Christian Bethancourt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christian Bethancourt |
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Bethancourt with the San Diego Padres in 2016
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| Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| Catcher / First baseman | |||
| Born: September 2, 1991 Panama City, Panama |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 29, 2013, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| KBO: March 23, 2019, for the NC Dinos | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .229 | ||
| Home runs | 35 | ||
| Runs batted in | 135 | ||
| KBO statistics (through 2019 season) |
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| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 8 | ||
| Runs batted in | 29 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Christian Gabriel Bethancourt Ruiz (born in 1991) is a professional baseball player from Panama. He plays as a catcher and first baseman. He is currently part of the Toronto Blue Jays team.
Christian has played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These include the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, and Chicago Cubs. He also played in the KBO League for the NC Dinos. The Braves signed him in 2008, and he made his big league debut in 2013.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Christian Bethancourt was born and grew up in Panama City, Panama. He started playing baseball when he was five years old. At first, he played as a third baseman.
But Christian liked to run to wherever the ball was hit. His parents told him to try playing catcher instead. They explained that if a catcher left their spot, the other team could easily score. This helped him learn to stay in position.
Christian's Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Atlanta Braves
Minor League Years
Christian began his minor league career in 2008 when he was just 16. He was signed by the Braves as a young player. Before the 2012 season, MLB.com called him one of the top catching prospects.
In 2012, Christian played for the Mississippi Braves. He was chosen for the All-Star Futures Game. Later that year, he broke his left hand after being hit by a pitch. The Braves added him to their main team list after the season.
Christian played for Mississippi again in 2013. He was picked for the All-Star Futures Game a second time. After the minor league season, he joined the Atlanta Braves on September 9, 2013. He played his first major league game on September 29, 2013.
Playing in the Major Leagues
In 2014, Christian started the year with the Gwinnett Braves. This is a Triple-A team. He made his third All-Star Futures Game appearance. He was called up to the major leagues on June 28 when another player was injured.
Christian got his first major league RBI (Run Batted In) on July 1. He hit .240 in 13 games with the Braves. He was sent back to the minor leagues on July 21. He returned to the Braves on September 2.
In 2015, Christian worked to become the main catcher for the Braves. On June 6, he hit his first career home run. This home run won the game for the Braves 5–4. He played in 29 games for the Braves early in 2015.
He was sent back to Triple-A on June 15 after some defensive mistakes. He also wasn't hitting well. He was called back up on August 24. On October 5, Christian had knee surgery for a torn meniscus.
Moving to the San Diego Padres
On December 10, 2015, Christian was traded to the San Diego Padres. After spring training in 2016, he became the backup catcher. On May 31, he pitched for the first time in a game. It was a game the Padres were losing badly.
He pitched again on June 14, getting his first strikeout as a pitcher. After the season, Christian played in Panama. He played as both a pitcher and a position player.
In 2017, the Padres said Christian would mostly be a relief pitcher. He would also play catcher and outfield. He struggled as a pitcher. The Padres removed him from their main team list. He chose to become a free agent in November 2017.
Time with Other Teams
On January 8, 2018, Christian signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played for their Triple-A team, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He played in the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 11. He became a free agent again in November.
In December 2018, Christian signed a one-year deal with the NC Dinos in the KBO League in South Korea. He was released by the team in July 2019.
On January 7, 2020, Christian signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He did not play in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled. He re-signed with the Phillies in 2021 but was released in March.
On May 1, 2021, Christian signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played 92 games for their Triple-A team. He hit 14 home runs and had 60 RBIs. He became a free agent in November 2021.
Back to the Major Leagues
On December 3, 2021, Christian signed with the Oakland Athletics. On April 15, 2022, he joined the Athletics' main roster. This was his first MLB game since 2017. He played 56 games for Oakland, hitting four home runs.
On July 9, 2022, the Athletics traded Christian to the Tampa Bay Rays. On August 23, he had a great game. He drove in three runs, hit a home run, and pitched a scoreless inning. He threw pitches up to 95 mph.
In 2023, Christian played in 104 games for the Rays, which was a career high for him. He hit 11 home runs and had 33 RBIs. In November 2023, the Rays removed him from their main roster.
Recent Teams
On November 6, 2023, the Cleveland Guardians claimed Christian. Then, on December 10, he was traded to the Miami Marlins. He played 38 games for the Marlins, hitting two home runs. He was released by the Marlins in June 2024.
On July 5, 2024, Christian signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. After playing seven games in Triple-A, he joined the Cubs' major league team on July 26. On August 28, he had a big game, getting 7 RBIs. He played 24 games for Chicago, hitting 3 home runs. He chose to become a free agent in November 2024.
On January 22, 2025, Christian signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Images for kids
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Christian Bethancourt with the San Diego Padres in 2016
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Carlos Correa (left) and Christian Bethancourt at the 2013 All-Star Futures Game
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Christian Bethancourt with the Atlanta Braves in 2014
See also
In Spanish: Christian Bethancourt para niños
