Posted on 09/08/2016 6:41:55 AM PDT by drewh
Tim Tebow's baseball career has begun.
The former Florida Gators football star has signed a contract with the New York Mets, the team announced Thursday morning following a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Tebow, 29, will begin his professional career in either Arizona Fall League or Instructional League.
More than 12 years since he last played baseball at St. Augustine Nease, Tebow showed impressive speed and power at the plate, until he faced live pitching, according to reports.
Tebow hit eight balls over the fence at USC's Dedeaux Field during batting practice. But he did not connect on much against former major league relievers Chad Smith and David Aardsma.
Tebow ran the 60-yard dash and was clocked in a range of 6.65 to 6.82 seconds - above-average speed especially at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds.
Playing right field, Tebow caught every ball hit his way but graded out average at best with his throwing skills.
"I thought he was OK. Better than I expected, to be honest," one major league scout told USA TODAY on condition of anonymity. "For not having played as long as he had, I thought he did OK.
"That's a big dude, for as fast as he can run. The power was impressive, but I wish he could have translated it maybe a little better (against live pitching)."
A year ago, Tebow was in training camp for the Philadelphia Eagles, but did not make the team, effectively ending his NFL career after stints with four teams during five seasons.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Great kid...
FATHER GOD, bless TIM TEBOW and give him exceptional abilities to play Major League Baseball for YOUR honor and glory. In JESUS’ Name we pray. Amen.
Pitcher?
Hard to know what to say.
There’s no doubt TT is a great athlete. I just hope the Mets aren’t pulling the same nonsense as (what seemed to be) the Jets did.
I’d rather see Tebow in the gridiron (I know, I know), but if baseball turns out to be his forte, than so be it.
All the best to him.
If his throwing skills from the field were graded as only average then probably not.
He's fast for his size, has some power but did poorly against live pitching, can field but doesn't have a great arm. It's really hard to see how he's going to beat out kids who haven't had a 12 year layoff from baseball and whose fielding and hitting are better. Unless he shows rapid progress in winter ball then his chances of winding up on a minor league team in the spring are iffy at best.
I would have thought a Florida-based team would have signed him.
The irony is that his throwing needs work.
However, with pitching today painting corners of the strikezone, he may have long way to go.
he needs work hitting the curve much like Jordan. but he hits 450 foot home runs off 90 mph pitching...maybe a DH?
At best he will get through winter ball and MAYBE make it to a low A team. ...hey did he play basket ball in high school ...may as well give the NBA a shot
After a couple of seasons in the minor leagues, learning (maybe) to hit against professional pitching, he’ll be a 31yo rookie.
JMO but I think he needs to go get a job. Learn to install gunite pools maybe.
National league now has the DH?
Shows how little I’ve followed a game I once loved.
I wish Tebow well but he's got a long uphill climb to hit those 90+ mph major league fastballs.
Johnny Football makes 30k a year just signing autographs, drugging and boozing. So Tebow could make at least as much commentating on college football for Fox
Even if what you say is true, the Mets STILL might be able to trade him to the Pirates for a good, solid everyday player who they think will cost them too much money in a year or two. They might even be able to get him back in the same season like they did with Jon Neise.
All Tebow does is win! Go Gators!
Meanwhile, Neil Walker has only batted .282 with 23 home runs and 55 RBI, not to mention solid fielding as second base.
Lots of former athletes aspire to be on TV. What makes him, Tebow, so special? Please don't say his profession of Christianity, which is a good thing but not uncommon at all.
When does he just go get a job, okay let's say at a bank, or maybe in the jewelry business, where his Christian ethics can be an asset to him, and show prospective employers that he's willing to work, at a job?
I'd think Tebow was making considerably more than that from his job as commentator on the SEC Channel.
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