America's third-string QB Tim Tebow on Tuesday held a showcase for major-league teams in hopes of latching on and working his way up through one of those 30 systems. Tebow, 29, not long ago announced his intention to pursue a baseball career and has already been courted by indy-league teams and even a pro team in Venezuela. Tebow, though, aspires to play affiliated baseball.
To that end, we've already laid eyes upon Tebow's reasonable if wide-footed left-handed swing, and now the former standout prep ballplayer has displayed his full baseball wares. Per Tebow's representatives, scouts from 28 MLB organizations were on hand to witness the following showcase itinerary ...
Almost showtime pic.twitter.com/dBvSnT0j0N
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) August 30, 2016
As you can see, the finishing touch would be a round of live BP against two former major-league pitchers. And here's the rather very swole guest of honor ...
The @TimTebow workout is officially underway. #TebowTimepic.twitter.com/3aILHtTkF0
— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2016
First up, the 60-yard dash ...
6.8 seconds pic.twitter.com/2UCVBSh54j
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) August 30, 2016
Others had Tebow timed at 6.7 seconds in the 60, which would be above-average for a major-leaguer. For some context, Mike Trout's last recorded 60 time was 6.4 seconds. Now let's see the arm ...
Tim Tebow, right fielder. @MLB@MLBNetworkpic.twitter.com/P1swdho8cu
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 30, 2016
And to the plate ...
Tim Tebow has been watching his Coach Emanski videos #wcvbpic.twitter.com/BV1o8ZyyM3
— Scott Isaacs (@ScottIsaacs) August 30, 2016
His arm isn't the strongest, but he fields the ball outside the glove-side leg and crow-hops into the threw, as he should. As for his fielding, at least one on-the-scene review was not positive ...
Tim Tebow taking reps in center field, not getting good reads, routes are a little sporadic pic.twitter.com/To34YCyG9d
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) August 30, 2016
At the plate, he did indeed show some BP power ...
Tim Tebow hit this ball well out, scout estimated at 430, hit another one over Dedeux Field scoreboard by 20 feet pic.twitter.com/DciJrpFl01
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) August 30, 2016
Exhibit B ...
See those trees to the left of the scoreboard? That's where Tebow hit a ball. (Don't tell anyone it's just BP). pic.twitter.com/PtT6Q4M0nw
— Billy Witz (@billywitz) August 30, 2016
A closer at his showcase swing ....
Not an MLB scout but that looks like a pretty good swing. Built like the Bash Brothers. pic.twitter.com/DzuTNqKVUa
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) August 30, 2016
He's perhaps moved his feet a little closer together than was the case when last we saw him. Tebow's hands are quick to the ball, and he gets some hip-and-shoulder separation. That's not a bad swing at all, at least when confronted with a batting-practice fastball. A quick post-BP scouting report ...
my report on Tim Tebow based on BP: inconsistent LD path, power stems from strong legs (as it should), quicker to ball than would appear
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) August 30, 2016
And now for some live major-league-ish pitching ...
Tim Tebow's first AB vs. live pitching, 2-2 groundout to second (followed it with first pitch GO to shortstop) pic.twitter.com/5D5nikIzh1
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) August 30, 2016
And the much-dread offspeed stuff ...
Tim Tebow vs a former big-leaguer's off-speed stuff pic.twitter.com/kraSUr3YxT
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) August 30, 2016
Not surprisingly, that didn't go well for Tebow. The results versus Smith ...
Tim Tebow's 6 plate appearances against Chad Smith: 1-for-5 with a line-drive single to CF and walk. @MLBNetwork@MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 30, 2016
Now it's up to the 28 major-league organizations who presumably have at least a passing interest in Tebow. It's how they regard his future potential with the bat that will drive any interest that persists after this showcase. Needless to say, we'll hear more on this front, probably very soon.
