Christian Bethancourt

BIOGRAPHY

Christian Bethancourt was born September 2, 1991, in Panama City, Panama. He is a catcher in the MLB.

Bethancourt was signed as a non-drafted international free agent and began his minor league career at the age of 16 in 2008. He was named the seventh-most-promising catching prospect in baseball by MLB.com prior to the 2012 season.

Bethancourt again played for Mississippi in 2013 and made his second All Star Futures Game roster. Following the end of the minor league season, he was promoted and joined the Atlanta Braves on September 9, 2013. Bethancourt made his major league debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 29, 2013.

In 2014, Bethancourt began the year with the Gwinnett Braves of the Class AAA International League and made his third consecutive All-Star Futures Game on June 24. He was promoted to the major leagues when Evan Gattis went on the disabled list on June 28. He recorded his first major league RBI on July 1, against Daisuke Matsuzaka. Bethancourt batted .240 with the Braves in 13 games and was demoted to the minor leagues on July 21, when Gattis was activated from the disabled list. He was to be promoted back to the Braves on September 2.

In spring training in 2015, the Braves said Bethancourt would have to be assessed before he would be given the position of primary catcher. On June 6, Bethancourt hit his first career home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, off of Vance Worley, to give the Braves a 5–4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

On December 3, 2021, Bethancourt signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics. On April 15, 2022, Bethancourt was added to the Athletics roster for their road trip to Toronto. He played three innings at first base.

On July 9, 2022, the Athletics traded Bethancourt to the Rays for Cal Stevenson and Christian Fernandez. On August 23, 2022, Bethancourt drove in three runs, including a home run, and pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning in an 11-1 blowout of the Los Angeles Angels. Bethancourt topped out at 95 mph while giving up two hits and striking out one to close out the game.