Ex-MLB star says Tim Tebow 'needs a lot of time' before he's ever MLB-ready
A former NFL player-turned MLB star says New York Mets prospect Tim Tebow is making good progress as he works his way toward the majors. Still, he thinks the former Heisman winner “needs a lot of time” in the minors before he’s ready for The Show.
Like Tebow — a first-round NFL draft pick who switched to baseball — Brian Jordan knows a thing or two about playing both sports.
Jordan was picked in the seventh round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. Though he was later cut, the Falcons signed him, and Jordan ended up playing three seasons in Atlanta.
Jordan’s football career was done following the 1991 season, but 1992 ended up being the first of a successful 15-year career in the major leagues. Jordan had 1,454 hits with four teams, including 184 total home runs. When it was all said and done, he retired with one All-Star team selection and a respectable batting average of .282.
Of course, it’s highly unlikely that Tebow follows the same path. The former Denver Bronco is already 30, and realistically, he’s probably not going to make it the majors this year.
But according to Jordan, that’s OK. In fact, Jordan thinks that while Tebow is already getting better, he will benefit from being given a lot more time to develop in the Mets farm system.
“He’s made progress,” Jordan said of Tebow, noting that despite his poor spring training performance, there are other things one must take into account aside from statistics. The Mets must feel the same way, as Tebow was promoted to New York’s Double-A affiliate to start the regular season.
“Obviously, they feel like he’s progressing along and getting better … he still has a couple of holes and he’s working hard to fill them,” Jordan told TMZ Sports.
But for the time being, Tebow is likely where he belongs, because, as Jordan stated, “he still needs a lot of time down in the Minor Leagues.”
Tebow hasn’t exactly impressed in his short time as a professional baseball player. Last season, across two levels of play, he hit just .226 with eight home runs in 126 games.
And in spring training, Tebow had just one hit during his stint with the major league club. He was limited to DH duty due to a sprained ankle suffered early in camp and eventually got sent down 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.”
Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson has previously said he believes Tebow will one day “play in the major leagues,” according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
And as for Jordan, he’s rooting for Tebow to succeed.
“I’m pulling for Tebow and I hope he does make it,” Jordan said.
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