Tim Tebow pursuing career in professional baseball

[jonathanlambert33]

Tim Tebow will pursue a career in professional baseball.

For almost the past year, Tebow has been training in Arizona and Los Angeles to hone his hitting and fielding skills in a sport he has not played on a full-time basis since 2005.

Tebow was an All-State baseball player, hitting .494 as a junior.

"Obviously we support Tim in his pursuit of a baseball career, as we have in all his ventures," said Jimmy Sexton, Tebow's football agent, who is now working with CAA baseball agent Brodie Van Wagenen.

"Tim's athletic ability, his work ethic, his leadership and his competitiveness were evident in football and will show in baseball. Knowing Tim's passion and desire, we won't be surprised by anything he accomplishes."

Tebow turns 29 on Sunday.

Tebow will continue his broadcasting duties with ESPN.

ADAM SCHEFTER/ESPN

 

[elcheato]

I was proud of this forum for not having a thread about this

 

[BwareDWare94]

Those are going to be some long damn baseball games with his 30 second windup. Plus, I'm not at all interested in seeing him genuflect after every called strike.

 

[elcheato]

Good thing he has less than a zero percent chance of ever playing major league baseball

 

[CameronCrazy06]

But is it that far fetched that he could play minor leagues?

 

[elcheato]

Not effectively, this is just a publicity stunt

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

But is it that far fetched that he could play minor leagues?

 
Low A at best.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Idk what you guys are talking about, Gary Sheffield says Tebow has "it".

 

[elcheato]

I'm going to assume that means steroids

 

[Pugz]

Idk what you guys are talking about, Gary Sheffield says Tebow has "it".

hes going straight to the bigs

 

[catman]

Let the guy give it a shot.  If he can make it, good for him.  If not, he'll at least bring some fans to the ballparks in the minor leagues.

 

[H-MYK]

I can't really see this work out for him. He hasn't played baseball in 10 years. However, some team will sign him as a publicity stunt, wait until he starts sucking, then release him

 

[bosoxlover12]

What would he even be?

He's too slow to be an OF, and isn't good enough of a thrower to pitch. And a lefty 3B/SS/C is a nightmare

He'd be a 2B or 1B (if he could even play 2B) and I doubt he could hit well


Like dan said, a team would only sign him as a publicity stunt

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I don't see how he's too slow to play outfield.

But yeah this is absolutely a publicity stunt only

 

[bosoxlover12]

I guess he could, but he'd be below average speed wise. Average OF speed is a 6.8 60yd sprint, and Tebow's 40 time translates to a 7.1

So I guess he could play corner OF. He seems too big bodied to do it well imo

 

[PeachyRockinGal]

I think Tebow will be and will continue to be an attraction at minor league ballparks simply because of who he is and what he is trying to do.
 
Honestly, best of luck to him, hope he does well. I have nothing against a guy trying to find his way into something new.
The reality, however, is that he likely not make it past the lower minor league levels due to the sheer demands of learning how to hit a baseball (one of the hardest things to do in sports, no?), and competing with and against guys who have played baseball their entire lives.
 
I understand Tebow is a good athlete and that he played baseball before....but is that enough for him to get to the Majors (hell, will he even make it to AAA?), going up against guys who are struggling to do so even having made baseball their lifelong priority?
 
I don't think so.
 
What I hope DOESN'T happen is that a team (in this case, the Mets) promote him up through the ranks just so they can say, "Hey, we gave Tim Tebow a chance at the Majors and brought him into the Bigs"
 
If he makes it on his own merit, great.
But the odds are seriously stacked against him.
 
Again though, if he does it on his own, it will truly be a great story and likely inspire even more athletes to try switching sports late in their 'sporting life'.