Bethancourt (intercostals) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Jack Magruder of FanRag Sports reports.
Manager Andy Green is reportedly "intrigued" by Bethancourt's ability on the pitching mound, having seen him throw 96 mph without any work on his mechanics. A catcher by trade, Bethancourt's arm strength is unquestionably his strongest asset. He has hit just .223/.253/.318 in 153 games at the major league level, but it doesn't sound like the Padres are planning to have him focus exclusively on pitching -- they may instead try to develop him into a catcher/outfielder/pitcher hybrid player.