The sports world reacts to Tim Tebow's decision to give up football for baseball
Needless to say people are talking about Tim Tebow's decision to pursue a baseball career
Occasional NFL quarterback and college football legend Tim Tebow has announced his intention to pursue a baseball career. To that end, he'll be holding a showcase at the end of August, and all 30 teams will be invited.
Tebow is 29 and hasn't played baseball since high school, so that's working against him. On the other hand, he was very good at baseball in high school in a place -- Florida -- where the quality of prep baseball is quite high. He's also obviously quite athletic. On that point, there's this from MLB.com's Daniel Kramer ...
The Angels reportedly considered drafting Tebow out of high school in 2006, but he never returned an information card at the club's request, and the team moved on.
Speaking of high school, here's a look at the one-time baseball-ist for Nease High School in Ponte Verde, Fla ...
Future #YardGoat Tim Tebow pic.twitter.com/wgXdPwfphv
— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) August 9, 2016
No, he's not actually a future Hartford Yard Goat. At least not yet. Here's a snippet about said high school career via Ken Bradley of the Sporting News ...
The Panthers lost in the Final Four of the state playoffs that season--they were blanked by Winter Haven pitcher and current Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer. Tebow hit cleanup, batted .494 with four home runs, 30 RBIs and 10 doubles. He made The St. Augustine Record's All-County team, the Times-Union's All-First Coast team and was a first-team All-State selection.
In the here and now, Tebow's already made an impression, at least upon those inside his camp ....
Let's also recall that in 2014, an assistant coach for the University of Memphis verified claims that Tebow casually hit 12 homers in 15 swings while taking batting practice at a Memphis high school ...
So there's that. As well, he's also caught the attention of a very accomplished former big-league slugger ...
I spent time w @TimTebow in the cages recently, he's a NATURAL. I absolutley believe in his ability to play in the bigs. Tim has IT #focused
— Gary Sheffield (@garysheffield) August 9, 2016
On the other hand ...
tim tebow scouting report: 🙄 pic.twitter.com/xBRNupd49U
— RUSS BENGT$ON (@russbengtson) August 9, 2016
That, as it turns out, is a pic of Tebow as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Florida-Miami baseball game in 2009. Here's more on that occasion from
Jesse Simonton of the Miami Herald
...
Lefty's first effort went all the way to the backstop. Pretty funny considering Riley Cooper was the ceremonial catcher. Cooper, of course, is a receiver on the football team and a right-fielder on the baseball team. He's also Tebow's roommate. I've never seen Tebow so nervous. Cooper hustled to get the wild pitch and tossed it back to Tebow for another try. Tebow's second effort was much better. After the quick show of encouragement from Cooper, Tebow went into the stretch wind-up one more time and this time hit his target. Fastball.
So two ceremonial first pitches, actually, the first of which could not be handled by an NFL receiver.
The larger reality, though, is that one does not simply decide to become a big-league ballplayer at age 29, high-school glories notwithstanding. But an indy-league ballplayer? That's already within reach ...
The Schaumburg Boomers, a Frontier League indy team, have offered Tim Tebow a contract to play OF sight unseen.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) August 9, 2016
Here's the pitch directly from Boomers manager Jamie Bennett ...
"We're looking for an athletic outfielder who can bring some leadership and competitiveness into the clubhouse," said Schaumburg Boomers Manager Jamie Bennett, "Tebow brings all of those characteristics and then some. I think he'd be a great fit here in Schaumburg."
"I understand that Tim's ultimate goal is to make it to the major leagues, just like every other guy on our team," stated Boomers General Manager Pete Laven, "With our proximity to Chicago and the fact that major league scouts come through our park on a regular basis, I think this is the perfect situation for Tim to showcase his skills in a game situation."
The Royals' Triple-A affiliate, however, sounds a bit more skeptical ...
Hmmm... pic.twitter.com/j33iPaCpgU
— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) August 9, 2016
If nothing else, his baseball vision-quest has already inspired a minor-league promotion ...
You knew this was coming, right? The Miracle present "What Can Tim Tebow Do?" Night! READ: https://t.co/vIneLUPHnHpic.twitter.com/ecDCgiSSA7
— Fort Myers Miracle (@MiracleBaseball) August 9, 2016
Also, probably, some hand-wringing among farmhands ...
Every @MiLB player today, when Tim Tebow says he's coming to take your job. #PhelpsFacepic.twitter.com/vJGRpCGJRU
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 9, 2016
And you should really know that a random hombre on YouTube predicted this Tebow end-game some three years ago ...
As for the important question ...
What should Tim Tebow's walk-up song be?
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) August 9, 2016
* braces self *
In conclusion, and perhaps with a glimpse of the baseball future ...
You can't make this stuff up: Tim Tebow is pursuing MLB career. Wants all 30 teams to watch him work out. pic.twitter.com/2TanQ8zHQV
— Dylan (@DylansFreshTake) August 9, 2016
Wait, perhaps equal time is called for ...
Guys...Tebow just posted this on SnapFace pic.twitter.com/nSW3XFSTt2
— Dave Dombrowski (@RedSoxPres) August 9, 2016
Tim Tebow, baseball player.
















