Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow will hold a workout for major league teams on August 30th, as ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick was among those to tweet. You can find a round-up of ESPN.com’s reporting on the topic here. He’ll be hoping to convince scouts that he is worthy of his first professional baseball contract at 29 years of age.
An all-time great NCAA football performer on the gridiron for the University of Florida, Tebow’s celebrity has outstripped his performance since he joined the professional ranks. He washed out after just three seasons in the NFL and has mostly worked as a college football analyst since 2012.
The more recent shift of Tebow’s gaze to the National Pastime has created ample media attention. It largely goes without saying, though, that the odds remain firmly against him ever playing any kind of impactful role in a minor league system — let alone reaching or succeeding in the majors. Tebow was quite a productive baseball player in high school, when he lined up in the corner outfield, but has focused exclusively on football in the intervening decade-plus since he hung up his glove and bat after his junior year.
Despite the long odds, it seems that MLB clubs are intrigued enough to take a look. More than twenty, in fact, are reportedly sending talent evaluators to see the workout, which is said to be the culmination of almost a year of preparation. Tebow will go through a fairly typical routine, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He’ll run, field flies and throw to bases, take live BP, and then face some live pitching.
The Dodgers previously “showed interest” after one of their scouts watched Tebow before the season, per ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell. Perhaps it’s telling, though, that the game’s most voracious consumer of amateur talent did not find a way to get the former Heisman Trophy winner into its talent pipeline when it had the chance. Whether or not Tebow has enhanced his appeal since that time remains to be seen, though it seems apparent already that the entire undertaking has succeeded in creating a spectacle.
If he gets a deal it wont be a mega deal or anything like a top prospect in the draft or international signing get. He’ll get a standard minor league offer that will most likely come in too light for his taste. Next he’ll be trying-out for the MLS or the NBA.
Let’s assume for sake of argument that his tryout goes great and all scouts project him to be a 2.0 WAR bench outfielder. I don’t think they will, let’s assume it. Let’s further assume he is willing to sign for the league minimum for five years. If it were any other person, he’d be signed immediately.
But you are the GM and you read all the comments below. You see that there is a subset of people that dislike Tebow far more than they should, for various reasons. Similarly, there is a subset that love him too much for many of the same reasons. Most everyone else realizes he will get more press coverage than any other 2.0 WAR bench player.
If you are the GM, do you still sign him in spite of all these distractions? Or is your team better off without the distractions? What say you?
I only hope the media gives him a legitimate chance.
Quit dogging this guy and let his talent alone decide if he’s good enough.
If he us then he deserves a real shot and if he isn’t it will play out on its own as it has for so many before him.
Just don’t slay him in print to fit your own agenda…..seems that isn’t too much to ask.
Any team would love to have a guy on their team that has as devoted fans as you and the rest of the Christians that tag along and would buy anything with his name on it. The thing is teams need to win and he doesn’t give a team a good shot at winning.
he doesn’t give a team a good shot at winning?—-What on earth are you basing that statement on?
If he did he’d be playing in the NFL. Obviously he doesn’t because he isn’t playing. He had a top 3 selling jersey in 2010 cardboardconnection.com/news/top-25-nfl-jersey-sal…
Merchandising alone a team would sign him if he could play.
Tell this to the scouts so they can save time and money by not checking him out.
How on earth do you know he doesn’t give a team a shot at winning and what does him being Christian have to do with it?
Dude was a Heisman winner that is in his physical peak with no major injuries.
Baseball is a very hard sport to come in and play and takes years of adjustments and honing of those skills. But if he’s been hard at work the last year then maybe there is still some potential.
Tebow got an incredible amount of hate as a football player. So many hated him or loved him, and it had more to do with him off the field than on it.
If he shows some of the basic skills necessary, he could get a walk on minor league contract this off-season where they invite him to various leagues and camps to see if he can progress. This happens every day to non-celebrity athletes. But it’s worth watching.
It doesn’t mean he won’t give a team a shot at winning. Nothing could have been more baseless, and doubled down by speaking of Christian fans
“How on earth do you know he doesn’t give a team a shot at winning and what does him being Christian have to do with it?”
If he did in the NFL a team would’ve signed him by now. His marketability makes him an easy sign for any team if he could play. Most of his marketability appears to be a result of his outward expressions of his faith(Christianity) which is actually a strength for him. Just trying to nip it in the butt that his religion is the reason he doesn’t get a contract when in fact it is actually a strength.
Heisman winners even without injury aren’t a sure thing in the NFL, look at Chris Weinke, Matt Leinart, Troy Smith, Eric Crouch Ron Dayne, and Ty Detmer just for starters. None did anything of note in the NFL. Playing the Heisman card is a joke in and of itself as college awards are no indication of potential NFL success.
What does NFL have to do with weather he can help a team win in MiLB? You’re making yourself sound like an idiot brood550
What good is he if all he is is a career minor leaguer? If that’s his ceiling he may as well stay in the booth for the SEC network. Without a year of MLB service time he wont be making enough for him to keep playing in the first place.
If you’ve listened to scouts and the people that have followed him before his “pro day” they have already stated multiple times that he doesn’t really have a future in baseball. Not too mention why would anyone do a workout for teams this late in the season? The timing alone is really odd. If he really wanted to tryout he’d have waited till late November or December with team workouts coming up soon. What’s he going to do go to Venezuela for fall ball at this point in the year? Because we all know he isn’t going to stay away from football this fall.
Yes, and this isn’t football, baseball requires a different set of skills completely. But he could do it. We don’t know his baseball abilities
If he does have a future, he would be a signing for future seasons. He’s obviously not going to jump into the pennant race in the 2016 season.
He has been training for the last year to get into baseball shape. 20 teams will get a chance to see what that looks like and if the potential is there to home in any of his skills.
Minor league depth also has a value, and maybe he the person just wants to compete.
“If he does have a future, he would be a signing for future seasons. He’s obviously not going to jump into the pennant race in the 2016 season.”
He won’t even make the season for the minors. Season ends on September 3rd. Why even do a workout at this time? Like I said most likely so he can stay in the booth for football and hope for a contract. Otherwise he would’ve scheduled this sometime after the World Series most likely a few weeks after to allow teams to go through all the front office work that comes right after the World Series. No team is going to want to sign a person that will be in the booth this fall secsports.com/article/11066848/sec-nation The only reason to sign a person at this time of the year is if they will go to winter ball. He has a prior commitment in the SEC booth this winter. Now how is he going to have the time to analyze SEC football completely and still have time for meaningful baseball reps?
Danny “frickin” Wuerffel ! Another gator heisman washout god boy.
You can do a showcase at any time. There is no way he’s game ready for 2016 regardless. He’s auditioning for 2017 and beyond. When he does it doesn’t matter in the least bit
The expression you’re looking for brood550, is nip it in the BUD, not butt
Christian? If youre ever going to analyze an athlete properly these type of judgements need to be left at the door. There’s no room for prejudice in baseball discussions.
@ Liamsfg, You failed to read the part where I said it was a good thing
“His marketability makes him an easy sign for any team if he could play. Most of his marketability appears to be a result of his outward expressions of his faith(Christianity) which is actually a strength for him.”
As such if he has the talent to play somewhere he will be signed hands down. He is way to recognizable and marketable to not be part of an organization if he has the talent to succeed.
MLB is probably the worst professional sport when it comes to marketing. Teams care about tv deals, not so much about gate revenue and merch.
You just don’t see a lot of marketing moves in baseball
Media seems to be giving him more of a chance than any other 29 year old who hasn’t played since his junior year of high school would get.
More of a chance?
How,by just reporting on him?
If they were giving him even equal chance they wouldn’t be doing anything…..and he could let his talent/lack of talent…..speak for itself.
It’s not Tebows’ fault the media latches on to his every move like he’s the Pope!
Just let the Brewers sign him
As long as none of the scouts make him throw the skinny post route, there’s hope.
Remind me why this is something I should care about?
You’re obviously intrigued since you read the article and made a post about it.
No one reminded you to read/post. You’re doing just w/o reminders
Sign him Boston, he can’t be any worse than tazawa
He’s not trying-out as a pitcher. If he was he’d have such a long windup Billy Butler would steal at will against him.
But can he be worse than tazawa lol
Depends on if he doesn’t overthrow the catcher?
I can see it now….Tim makes the catch, blows the read on the cutoff man and decides to run the ball in from the outfield.
Now that is funny!!! 😀
Couldn’t have written it better.
Dave Stewart is going to sign him for Yoan Lopez money.
I see him starting for the Angels next week…
Can’t wait till he gets drilled with a 98 mph heater!! Conceded f$
I’m not a fan of Tebow the athlete… but I’m not going to wish that kind of potential harm on anybody. Everybody knows that when you’ve not faced live pitching in a decade and never faced anything above high school pitching your chances are slim. It’s not even a matter of pure physical ability – Tebow has plenty of that – it’s the timing and knowledge and all the peripherals that make what he’s trying near impossible. Most likely, he’ll fail on his own. I admire him trying and even though I’m no fan, hope he doesn’t get hurt.
AND that the Red Sox or Cards don’t sign him.
“Conceded F$”?
Ha
Tim Tebow is the least “conceited” athlete there is.
He takes zero credit for his athletic success.
Let me guess….. You hate the Gators or your team lost to TT in College or you hate outspoken men of faith?
Otherwise…… Why the hate?
He has never asked for all of this attention you are obviously jealous of either.
Did I miss a memo? Is that how you spell conceited now?
He most certainly has asked for it.
You’re right. He thanks “god” for all his good plays. How come we don’t see him blaming his god for when he makes bad plays? It’s all stupid. People are welcome to their opinions but he is too in your face with his religion in attempts to push it on others. It’s gross.
And people could argue your comment is “gross”. It’s just a circle baby. Goes round and round and round.
even if he sucks like a new Shop Vac, he would instantly become a top 5 prospect in the Angels system….
1
Let see if Rabbi Jesus comes to his aid , Since that’s all he got !
Leave your religious beliefs out of this.
Why? Tebow doesn’t leave his out of any interaction he has with fans or the media. So why should others leave it out when evaluating him? If he focused more on learning how to be a QB and read a defense rather than reading the bible maybe he would still be in the NFL.
Because presumably you are better than he is. “He did something wrong, therefore I am justified in doing it too” is how kids on a playground think. Adults take the high road.
Because you are offensive about it. Fairly plain and simple.
There is not a single negative comment on here that does not take a shot at his spiritual beliefs. Really pathetic guys
Actually there were a couple prior to you making this comment. Never a good idea to make inaccurate grand statements when it can be fact checked on the same page. Then it just looks overly defensive.
And this is coming from a person that really doesn’t care about Tebow at all, since I don’t even know who he is really other than small tidbits. I avoid football related coverage as much as I possibly can.
Then why comment on it? Hahahaha some people just make you want to shake your head
And why do you care if they comment….comments like your is why so many believe that any criticism of him is fully rooted in bias of his faith. I could care less about that….. my dislike of him is/was as an overrated (by many) player…he lacks the NFL skillset. There are many, many in all sports who thank above, the cross them selves, acknowledge their god. It does not matter until someone asserts “he is shoving it in my face. Guess what…you have an on/off switch on your TV…if it offends you…USE it. No one is shoving or forcing anything…you view it voluntarily….that is the true SMH.
I was simply pointing out a flaw in a statement. The only thing you accomplished is proved my point about people seeming overly defensive.
If you walk with the Duck , Talk like a Duck , then You become the Duck !
I believe the NPR blacklisted him. Look at some of the awful quarterbacks that hung around as backups or third string quarterbacks. God forbid someone in the NFL could be a good role model for kids. The NFL is filled with some of the worst behaved adults in this country.
To the people who blast him for being a Christian I feel sorry for you, and to the one poster who just lumps all Christians into a category of mindless followers. You have no understanding in what it is to believe in something beisdes your god Obama.
If Tebow were a muslium you all would be kissing his behind. You libs love your double standards.
Yes, because Tebow playing baseball at 29 years old after a 12 year hiatus is a liberal/conservative issue. This political crap sucks. I come here for baseball, not political nonsense.
Wait… somebody blasting people for lumping Christians in the same category went ahead and lumped a bunch of people into a category in the very next sentence?
Wait, Obama? What? Where? Guns at the ready!!! Give the guy a break man. He was better than Trump or Hillary will ever be. But back to baseball guys!
“I believe the NPR blacklisted him. Look at some of the awful quarterbacks that hung around as backups or third string quarterbacks.”
The difference is when the backup has the name recognition Tebow has if the starter struggles everyone including the media are going to be calling for a change at Qb immediately rather than letting the starter work through their issues. If Tebow isn’t starting on a team he is a time bomb. The only Qbs he could sit behind right now are top tier guys without fans calling for the coach to be fired. Hell, Tebow had a shot with the Patriots. He could’ve hung out behind Brady and been fine. But even they released him. If Belichick can’t do anything with you in his innovative offense you probably have no place in the NFL. Seriously though, if he was worth a flyer someone would’ve signed him at some point. Players don’t get blackballed for being a highly marketable commodity that people see as a good role model. They get black balled for being taped punching their fiance in an elevator.
no he didn’t get a job because he is bad at football and not as good as those other backups. The idea that his religious beliefs had anything to do with it is silly as I bet you the NFL has more christians than any other major sport. If you are good, they don’t care if you eat cats and sacrifice goats, you will play.
Tebow is bad. His technique and results are not useful. Maybe he will make a decent ballplayer, who knows? But his success or failure will ride on his talent not his beliefs, as they always have..(P.S. atheists are not only liberals, so can that crap)
Here’s an idea: Rather than try out for major league scouts, why not sign on with an Independent League team, face some live pitching, and do away with the seeming necessity to create a spectacle?
Well, the most obvious reason to do it this way (other than publicity) would be to expedite the process. Playing in an indy league is definitely a viable option, but doing it this way could potentially put him directly in MiLB.
So he won’t shift off Quarterback, but he will shift of Football entirely?
Nonetheless, good luck to the man. Why the hell not?
Power to him and good luck, but man talk about a longshot.
Maybe the next George Plimpton?
you know, comment sections of websites like this one are all the proof i need to think that if i was a GM, i wouldn’t even attend the workouts
the extremely limited upside of a 30 year old who hasn’t played league baseball in over a decade would be far outweighed by the headache of having to deal with his overzealous fans demanding he get promoted regardless of what he does in the minor leagues
He probably gets signed by an Indy league team who would love to have fans show up to see him and if he plays well, then a MLB team might sign him. Who knows, if he does well enough, he gets signed to a minor league deal by a MLB team and he sells a bunch of tickets for one of their A level teams and if he works out, fine. If not, you release him and the minor league team makes some money on the deal
personally i wish him well. i mean, what he does with his life is no concern of mine so he’s free to pursue whatever makes him happy
personally i think his rabid fanbase has done him far more harm than they realize over the years by making him a nightmare for the coaches and GMs trying to make him better
As with anyone with a dream, I wish him well. The odds are long but you never know. Heck Jim Morris signed at age 35 after not playing for 10 years and made it to the bigs the same year. Not likely but ya never know.
He’s a professional athlete with good makeup. Why should a team NOT be interested?
because his age and time away from the game make it unlikely he will ever make a contribution to the big team. 10 teams apparently aren’t going to bother with it, and I suspect that when it’s all said and done, he might get one or two lowball offers to go to rookie ball and turn it down.
You’re most likely right.
Pretty good coup though – a random scrub isn’t going to get scouts from 20 teams turn up, like Tebow has.
Heck, there are pretty hot ticket Latin guys that get less attendance.
Marlins sign him, send him to AA Jacksonville next season…Jacksonville sells out every home game..
I remember A lot of people commenting during his rookie year of football. A lot of the comments were directed towards “God doesn’t win football games”. Call me a pessimist but I don’t believe that God when’s baseball games either…
I always liked Tebow. People get way too hung up on the whole religion aspect to anyone. I don’t care if u warship at the house of the lord or the house of strip clubs. Entertain me and I’m happy. Dudes entertaining and I wish he got another shot at playing QB. Hopefully he’s as entertaining playing baseball. We know he is a leader. Let’s c what happens. I watch sports for the entertainment value. Be interesting and I’ll watch u
I think he just wants to take a shot at playing baseball. You never know until you try. If you have that desire, and don’t try, that would be something he’d always wonder if he could have made a minor league team. I say— shoot for your dreams— sometimes they come true!!!!!