Breaking: Tebow gets big news about his next step with Mets
Tim Tebow’s next step on his professional baseball journey is a step in the right direction.
The New York Post, citing an industry source, reported Monday that Tebow will begin this season with the Mets’ Double-A affiliate in Binghamton, New York. MLB.com confirmed the report.
That’s a positive sign, considering Tebow spent all of last season in Single-A leagues — first with the team’s Low-A league in Columbia, South Carolina, and then with its High-A team in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Tebow hit .226 with eight home runs and a .656 OPS in 126 games between the two teams.
The Mets are sending Tim Tebow to Double-A, meaning he is one step closer to the big leagues https://t.co/JystkJCvgs pic.twitter.com/CkmZIIwpir
— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) March 26, 2018
Tebow was invited to be part of the Mets’ major league camp at the start of spring training, but he struggled mightily, hitting just .056. He was limited to DH duty due to a sprained ankle suffered early in camp and was eventually demoted to the team’s minor league camp.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t do as much as I wanted to with my ankle, which is kind of disappointing,” Tebow said after being sent to the minor league camp. “But I got to put in a lot of good work, and feel like I’m improving. So that’s good.”
The promotion to Double-A means the Mets feel Tebow is ready to prove himself against the next level of pro competition.
It also might be his last chance to prove he has what it takes to play at the major league level.
Sandy Alderson vowed to be aggressive with Tim Tebow's development, and he's keeping to his word. The Mets plan to announce next week that Tebow will begin the minor league season at Double-A Binghamton, according to a source. Tebow ended last year at Class A St. Lucie.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 26, 2018
Competition in Double-A is stiffer and features players with more experience and much better pitching than in Single-A ball. It’s the level where the big-league dreams of a lot of prospects eventually die.
But Tebow said all spring that he felt more comfortable at the plate this year compared with last, and he used the offseason to shorten his swing in the hopes of cutting down on his strikeouts.
“I’ve felt really good, and been really comfortable,” Tebow said after he notched his first base hit of spring training. “Just feel a lot more adjusted to the game. I feel like I have a very different approach and swing, so I can be a lot more patient seeing pitches and trusting all the work that I’ve put in.”
First-year Mets manager Mickey Callaway was impressed by what he saw from Tebow early in spring training.
“He has a good swing. I think he’s putting some really good swings on some pitches,” Callaway said after the team’s first Grapefruit League game.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said earlier this month that he expects Tebow will make it to the big leagues at some point.
“We’ve been pushing him,” Alderson said. “There is a finite period of time for this to work. His commitment to the game has been exceptional, so we’re pushing him a little bit.”
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