PHOENIX -- Jason Motte had been a catcher his whole life, but after owning a career .188 batting average through three seasons in the Minor Leagues, he was presented with a difficult ultimatum.

He would either have to learn how to pitch or risk getting cut by the Cardinals organization.

So Motte made the transition to the mound, and after spending three years ascending through every level of the Cardinals' farm system as a reliever -- from extended spring camp in May 2006 to Triple-A in 2008 -- on Tuesday, he was summoned from Memphis as a September callup.

"In 2006, they pretty much just told me, 'You're pitching now,'" said Motte, who hadn't pitched in an organized game since he was a 12-year-old Little Leaguer.

Motte probably made the right decision. After a season in Class A, he finished 2007 with a combined record of 4-3 with a 1.98 ERA and 11 saves, appearing in 53 games between Class A and Double-A.

Motte, 26, spent the entire 2008 season at Triple-A Memphis, where he was 4-3 with nine saves and a 3.24 ERA. He struck out 110 batters through 66 2/3 innings.

"Motte's the intriguing one," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "If you see a guy that's got a great arm and he's having trouble hitting, then pitch.

"We were really impressed with his delivery. He didn't seem like a guy who had just started pitching. He's been doing it all year."

On Wednesday, Motte made a memorable Major League debut at Chase Field. He was put into the game in the seventh inning in a pretty high-pressure situation against the D-backs, who had already scored two runs in the inning and were still knocking on the door.

Motte entered with runners at first and second with two outs, and he started his big league career by striking out third baseman Mark Reynolds on four pitches. Motte stayed in the game to throw a scoreless eighth, averaging 98 mph on his fastball.

Motte is extremely familiar with several pitchers in the Cardinals organization, especially Kyle McClellan and Brad Thompson, who he used to catch going up through St. Louis' farm system.

"We always kid around about stuff like that," Motte said. "I've caught some of these guys, and then I faced them again when I was pitching. Some of these guys have seen me do both.

"Thompson actually hit better than me in the Minor Leagues."

Motte said being a catcher helped him with his mental approach on the mound. As a catcher, he developed a greater understanding of how to read hitters and see what they did and how they did it.

Motte always knew he had a strong arm, but the extent of that was based on trying to catch runners attempting to steal. A quick mover, Motte said his transformation from catching to pitching has been a pretty amazing experience after struggling so much at the plate for so long.

"I just wanted to make sure I would get a chance," Motte said. "I had never really pitched. I didn't know what to expect and I didn't know what everyone else was expecting, but I knew I wanted to be given the opportunity to try pitching, and maybe if I struggled, they would stay with me. That's all I ever really wanted was a chance."