Before Carson Kelly turned into an unsung hero for the Chicago Cubs as the team's starting catcher last season, there was Christian Bethancourt. Faced with the injuries and ineffectiveness of Miguel Amaya and Yan Gomes in 2024, the Cubs turned to Bethancourt during the closing months of the 2024 season, and he became a folk hero.
In 24 games with the Cubs, Bethancourt slashed .281/.305/.509 with 3 home runs and a 125 wRC+. He spent the 2025 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, appearing in 58 games with their Triple-A affiliate. Bethancourt's next stop is a return to Chicago, inking a minor-league deal with the Cubs that would see him earn $1.