Between a hand injury in 2019 and then the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Tim Tebow hasn’t played in an official game since July 21, 2019. However, the 33-year-old former NFL quarterback hasn’t given up on his dream of playing in the majors, and he tells MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo that he is preparing for Spring Training and another season in 2021. “[Baseball is] not something that I want to do forever…because there’s a lot of other things that are in my heart that I want to pursue,” Tebow said. “But it is something that is still in my heart today.”
Over 287 games and 1048 plate appearances in the Mets’ farm system, Tebow has hit .223/.299/.338 with 18 home runs. This isn’t an unimpressive achievement given that Tebow hadn’t played baseball since he was a high schooler in 2005, and as Tebow’s baseball endeavor enters its sixth year, it can hardly be written off as a publicity stunt given Tebow’s obvious commitment. That said, Tebow’s promotions up to the Triple-A level haven’t been due to his actual potential as a prospect, and now that the Wilpon family and Brodie Van Wagenen (who represented Tebow as a baseball agent at CAA) no longer have a voice in Mets business, it is fair to wonder how much longer Tebow will remain in the organization. Sandy Alderson, however, is on record as being a Tebow supporter, and the front office may still feel the bigger-picture appeal of Tebow as a Met is worth giving him another crack at Triple-A.
More from Citi Field…
- Noah Syndergaard has begun throwing off a mound, as the right-hander revealed in a video on his personal Twitter account. It’s a positive step in the rehab process for Syndergaard, who underwent Tommy John surgery back in March and will likely miss at least the first couple of months of the 2021 season while fully recovering. While pitchers aren’t always immediately in top form after returning from a Tommy John-induced layoff, the Mets will surely welcome whatever Syndergaard can bring as an in-season boost to the rotation.
- Rays special assistant Bobby Heck is still on the Mets’ radar as a front office hire, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports (via Twitter), possibly as the team’s new general manager. Earlier this week, Puma reported that Heck wasn’t likely to be the Mets’ choice for the president of baseball operations job. It seems likely that the Mets would find the baseball ops leader first before hiring a GM, in order to give their new front office leader input on their chief lieutenant.
- For more Mets news, an edition of NL East Notes from earlier today on MLBTR included a surprising pre-Carlos Beltran managerial candidate.
How about an update on Joey Wentz, a serious Tiger prospect who underwent TJ about the same time as Thor?
Joey wentz hasn’t been a serious prospect ever
After the trade from Atlanta, Wentz struck out 37, walked 4 in 26 IP over 5 starts. Put him in the hands of the Tigers’ new analytics-driven pitching coach and I’ll bet you’ll continue to see results better than he showed in Atlanta’s system.
Tell that to Max Sherzer.
Pitching analytics. Ok there.
He’s a solid prospect. Didn’t realize he had TJ. He’s not immune to the ole “dead arm” injury, so it’s not shocking. He’s gonna be good. I wasn’t thrilled about giving him up. I think he will be a really good mlb pitcher for a while
Yawn on the nalytics PC. If you’re giddy because if the Hinch hiring,Time to pump the brakes.,Its not going to happen overnight. Any half way decent manager could of managed The Astros to the WS. Much like Torre with the Yankees. He was given a talented lineup. We will see how good a manager Hinch really is.
Check the tigers site
“Mets Notes” is the title of this article…
Tebow needs to stop kidding himself. He has neither the skills or the tools to be an actual MLB player.
If he gets called up it will either be as a tribute to him trying and failing or somehow everyone on the Mets roster suddenly contracts Covid-19.
he was a AA all star, which is more then mosg professional baseball players can say.
@Darkside.. His numbers weren’t that great. He made the all star team to sell tickets.
Yeah, that’s the scuttlebutt.
Tell ya though…guy’s one helluvan athlete.
I always wanted some team to put him at FB & Vick at HB and just go crazy with trick plays. Kind of a Harlem Globetrotters style of football.
Alas.
@ 32. Please. he’s 32 years old
As long as a team offers him a chance to play, he should take it while he still can.
“Stop kidding himself’ ? He’s playing the game because he loves it, and because he has been given the opportunity. We should all be that lucky.
I don’t like the baseball “hobbyist” players like Tebow, Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan. They get opportunities that other deserving prospects don’t because of who they are.
There’s this attitude that baseball is an “easy” game, that its performers are soft and that its athletes are not on a par with top athletes from other sports.
Bo was a complete stud as a baseball player before his injury. He should of never played football.
Yeah, I’m not sure how he could be called a “hobbyist”. Sanders & Jordan were pretty good baseball players, too.
Who – exactly – is Tebow somehow blocking?
Tebow did NOT take playing time away from “deserving prospects”… I don’t understand why so many have this misconception… the minors are filled with non-prospects no better than Tebow… look at the Mets’ minor league stats the last few years… name the player, better than him, that he took at bats from. There aren’t any. He’s no prospect, but neither are any of their other OFrs, or half the minors across baseball.
i was wondering what Cohen’s thoughts on the Tebow project were
My guess is that Cohen wants to make money while at the same time putting a winner on the field (as a Braves fan I am hoping it takes awhile to build a winner there) But on that note … I would think Tebow stays in the Mets Org in 2021 and if the parent club struggles Tebow could be called up to help sell tickets (if Covid allows it) and memorabilia to help the Mets bottom line in 2021
Worst case scenario, Tebow become MLB analyst/commentator for the Mets. Kinda like Tony Romo being NFL commentator/analyst. Hopefully Tebow does better than what Romo has done in that position. Romo is horrible and I have to mute the TV to be able to watch the game. The guy drives me crazy and believe Romo should be kicked out of the booth. Let him sit in Bradshaws chair during halftime.
You really felt the need to mention the la russa interview in a second post? God, at least the Mets didn’t hire him.
P.S. stop reading content from clipboards on our phones.
Go home
Tebow the man gets more chances in sports than anyone ever deserves. To the guy saying as a tribute for him trying what a joke. Their are serious career minor league players who work their butts off day in and day out who have been in the minors for over a decade who deserve a call more than tebow. The only reason he even got a chance at baseball is cause of his fame not talent just like in the NFL this is whats wrong with this world popularity wins over talent in some cases tebow is nothing more than the Kardashian of sports. Famous and rich with no real talent whatsoever.
He’s not suggesting for the Mets to do it as a tribute.
how many nfl playoff games have you won as a quarterback big guy
I don’t think Tebow only got a chance in the NFL based on fame. He came out of college as an accomplished and physically gifted QB, and there was legitimate upside to him despite his awkward mechanics.
To be sure, the detractors who said he really wasn’t a legitimate NFL QB turned out to be correct, but I think he earned a shot on merit.
well said
and how many baseball games have you or the tebow jock riders won?
funny how many of you blow the guy, considering his ilk are homophobic (yet love being around naked men, spending all day thinking about and talking about dudes having sex, etc..).
Including a playoff game.
As long as people are willing to spend money on tickets and food to watch him, some team will be willing to keep him on the roster, regardless of how good he plays.
About 6″4′ and 250’ish pounds running a 6.60 in the 60 yard dash is the reason he was signed.
re: Tebow blocking minor leaguers… there haven’t been many OF prospects in the Akers system to block over the last few years. That’s about to change, but I don’t think he really was blocking any OF prospects in their system up to now.
*mets*
Lookup STEVE HOWE, that is the guy who had the most chances
people keep forgetting how ol’ Timmy boy alienated his team mates,the coaches and management,the press, and the fans when he was on the Jets.
Tebow is 33 years old and hit .163/.240/.255 in the hitter friendly PCL over 264 PA’s with a 37.1% K rate. He’s never posted an OPS over .750 throughout the minors leagues.
Yet hundreds of minor leaguers with much better numbers are now unemployed thanks to the pandemic
seems like a macro rather than micro problem
Tebow played AAA ball at Syracuse in the IL
Mets better sign JTR before someone else snatches him up, even before they hire a PBO
I would rather they go after springer, McCann or Molina, of course try for Bauer but more likely go after the top of the second tier type starters and get two, and then focus hard on bullpen. One or two year bigger money type deals because bullpen can never be trusted year to year majority of the time.
I rather them sign someone to a 2 or 3 year deal or until Francisco Alvarez is ready to come up.
Can’t argue that point.
even though he’s only 18,they say Alvarez will be ready in 2 years. at the plate he’s considered a stud,behind the plate he has a lot to learn,catching takes a lot of work.
No sense rushing into a foolish overpay right now. Wait and see how the market plays itself out. If the Mets really want him they can outbid for him. Plenty of time. I really think JTR signs towards the end of the offseason. I get the sense he wants to stay in Philly, but Philly may not be willing to pony up.
If I am not mistaken, I think Syndergaard is FA after the upcoming season. I wonder if due to his unavailability for the first couple of months if Mets would consider trading him, Familia and Nimmo, to the Rangers for Lynn, Solak, and Montero if we took 75% of Familia’s salary. Mets get a two or three starter ready for opening day, a cheaper, but just as effective young set-up or closer, a super-utility player, and save some money to perhaps allow them to sign Springer and Realmuto.
Your post went from is Noah S’s contract up and would the Mets trade him to a bonkers trade package
Mets own the Syracuse Mets. Tebow = ticket sales. They’ll likely promote him in September and release him in November
Tebow is unlikely to earn a spot on an MLB roster.
But that said, if you agree when Trevor Bauer says that baseball is in the entertainment business, then it has to apply for Tebow too. Let him sell tix in ST and at AAA…but no free pass to The Show.
The Mets’said,what the heck,give him an interview.
If you have ever been to a game where he played, even as an away player, many fans root for him. Stats aside, a lot of folks must like him and has ‘different’ attitude.
But I want the Mets to hire Mike Hill!
I thought Tebow was god’s favourite son. Yet he gave him only mediocre football talent and no baseball talent. Maybe he didnt pray hard enough.
Lol. I’m not a religious guy, but it’s hilarious how much people hate a guy for his religion. Who cares? This post is ridiculous.
I agree with you, brother.
Nobody hates him for his religion. Religious people are good at playing the victim card. His beliefs never cost him a job or fame.
his beliefs cost other people their jobs (since they target everyone who doesn’t believe in their version of fairy tales).
but hey, not like timmy or any of the christians in here actually read their bible (i read it, so did tons of atheists. it’s why we don’t fall for this nonsense. of course, it’s also why christian aids, i mean covid, isn’t killing us like it is tebow fans).
I’m talking specifically about the post above where some dude is clearly correlating talent and religion and making fun of the guy for it. Ridiculous.
I’m not a Tebow fan. However, I am so THANKFUL AND PROUD to be a CHRISTIAN. I like everyone else am a sinner. The only difference between a believer and nonbeliever is that I am SAVED by the GRACE OF GOD. I fall short every day but do the best I can. Like the title of a very popular book states: I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.
We know which side of the nutty politics u are on arc.. Watch what’s going on in this country without those blinders u have on and then tell me who is playing the victim card.
He’s doing better than mediocre off the field so I’m sure his prayers are being heard.
Yes 2 ncaa championships and a heisman plus played pro football and minor league baseball. That’s not mediocre. He’s a Christian yes. So knock him for having values. But don’t say he was mediocre. You need to pray maybe
Mlb trade rumors, you guys are awesome. But real baseball fans dont care for Tim Tebow……
Yet – oddly enough – @mario93 on a website dedicated to baseball there are 50+ comments in this thread.
Huh.
I hate him being in the mets system, let him go try on another Team its an embarrassment!
Hire your staff already please.
Tim Tebow can play on the Mets’ Old Timers Day game. I’m sure it will hurt and he’s tried but he needs to be cut instead of cluttering up a minor league roster spot.
He’s not cluttering up a spot. As bad as he is, he’s been one of the top three OF options at each level he’s played at. Seriously, look at the other OFrs they have run out there. None of them demonstrably better than Tebow.
That says far less about Tebow than it does about the Mets farm system…
You’re wrong. I mean, yea, the Mets should have more OF prospects than they do, but half the minors is made up of filler guys no better than Tebow. That’s how it works across baseball. You seem to have the common misconception that most minor leaguers are prospects. Even a great system is going to be littered with non prospects just there to fill out spots. Look it up. Most minor leaguers are not actually genuine prospects. Folks who have a bug up their butts about Tebow having a spot don’t understand the nature of the minor leagues.
Wow, it’s surprising to hear that Thor is already throwing off a mound. That’s pretty impressive less than 8 months after TJS. I assume he is on both a very careful pitch count and more importantly, a “velocity count” too. Not sure the doctor wants him out there trying to throw 95 mph this soon after TJS or snapping off sliders and curves for that matter. But it definitely brings hope that Thor, Severino, Sale, etc. will all be ready to pitch sooner rather than later in 2021.
I’ll support Tim in whatever he does! Prove them wrong! I know you’re reading this comment
Tebow and heck in the same headline!
I see a lot of negativity towards Tebow in this post. The dude is following his dreams and workout hard towards something he wants to do. I’m not a Tebow fan but I respect him for giving it his all and not giving up. I always respect someone who works hard to follow there dreams.
Why is Tim Tebow even being talked about?
Blasphemy!
Because people have an irrational and ignorant hate for the guy which generates discussion.
people in the NY area got a taste of the real Tebow when he was on the Jets.anyone who falls for his religious BS should remember what he was like on the 2012 Jets.
The reason Sandy is positive is two fold. First he does draw fans to the park and after all a business needs to succeed financially. Secondly Tebow is an athlete that lives what he preaches. Works extremely hard to try to improve, rides the busses in the backwoods of small towns, well liked personally all provide character that can become a role model for minor leaguers. The day that his presence is holding back more deserving players will be the day his pursuit will end.
For Tebow his pursuit has a twofold objective. He is extremely competitive and will go all out pursuing a goal. Even more important is his passion for his charitable organization. His baseball pursuit gives him a platform to enable him to help promote his work with the handicapped. I hate to break it to you but life is more than some arrogant pursuit, some people have higher goals. At the same time they will give 100% to whatever they are doing.
With being a former QB, you’d think Tebow would ry being a relief pitcher. He’s getting more opportunities than your average minor leaguer to succeed. One would figure he would widen his net a d try a different angle to making it in the MLB.
He’s demonstrated in football his unwillingness to switch position, so not that surprising he hasn’t done so in baseball. sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/buccaneers-tim-tebow-…
Yeah, you’re right. It’s amazing what any of us would be willing to do to get paid to play sports if we had his opportunity, let alone talent. You could make quite a comfortable living pitching to two or three batters a couple times a week.
Uncle Steve doesn’t need the Tebow sideshow. I prefer his holiness just go away
Cleonswoboda: what was he like on the Jets? Other then blocking for punts he hardly got on the field . NY media couldn’t get enough of him even though he was not even playing. Do you form your opinions from media reporting? I think you might better have better sources.