The New York Mets assigned outfielder Tim Tebow to their minor-league camp yesterday with a likely final roster spot with the Syracuse Mets, and Class AAA International League teams are already rolling out Tebow promotions.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback had a so-so spring so far for the Mets, going 4-for-15 with three strikeouts. And at 31 years old, it’s hard to argue that Tebow is a true prospect. It’s not like he doesn’t have plenty on his plate, including a contract as an SEC Network commentator and hosting an upcoming CBS competition series. But he persists with his baseball career, with the next stop Class AAA ball.
Tebow has spent plenty of time in buses the last three summers, and he’ll be spending more time this summer. From the New York Post:
“I think it’s just the love of the game, and it really being one of my first loves when I was a 4-year-old boy,” he said. “I had No. 35 just like Frank Thomas. You don’t know what opportunities you will have in the future, but this one I have now. I want to be all-in on the present and embrace it as much as possible.
“Those other things are awesome and I love them and there are so many things I want to go after in my life. But for this season, my life, this is it, playing this game that I love.”
But Tebow has been a solid draw at every step of the minors, bringing attendance boosts to his home teams — Columbia Fireflies (Low A; Sally League), St. Lucie Mets (High A; Florida State League) and Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Class AA; Eastern League) — and every league along the way. With the likely assignment to Syracuse, the rest of the International League is looking forward to the Tebow effect, as evidenced by this ticket offer from the Lehigh Valley IronPigs:
Tim Tebow has been sent to minor league camp by the Mets.
See the 31-year-old former quarterback try his hand at Triple-A Baseball with our special 10-game Tebow Plan: https://t.co/pb2m1h7SQm pic.twitter.com/lesanIJYU3
— IronPigs (@IronPigs) March 12, 2019
To say that the fortunes of the Syracuse Mets rose once again with the assignment of Tebow is an understatement. The Mets purchased the Syracuse Chiefs in 2017, ran out the string with the Washington Nationals as a parent in 2018 and embarked on a rebranding for the 2019 season. Things were already looking up at NBT Bank Stadium this season; Tebow is the frosting on the cake.
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