Bethancourt may add relief to varied skillset

PHOENIX — Baseball has utility men. It has super-utility men. And it has Christian Bethancourt.

The Padres traded for Bethancourt last offseason so he could serve as their backup catcher, a role which he filled adequately this year. His season came to an end in late August when he suffered a left oblique injury.

When he returns to action, it could be in a very different role.

During his recovery, Bethancourt has begun throwing bullpen sessions — as a pitcher. Manager Andy Green said the club is attempting to convert him into a “very intriguing 25th man,” who could pitch, catch and play the outfield.

“It’s a unique thought process and one that he embraced when we floated it to him,” Green said. “If he didn’t embrace it, we wouldn’t have pushed him down this path. It would be a very unique 25th man to carry. It gives me a third catcher, a pitcher, an outfielder and a bat off the bench with some power. We’ll see where it goes, but we’re walking down that path.”

Bethancourt appeared in two games as a reliever this season — both during blowouts. Still, he impressed enough with a fastball that touched 96 mph.

The nature of Bethancourt’s injury recovery has seen him progress faster on the throwing side of things than the hitting side. In that vein, he’s thrown two bullpens in …

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