Tim Tebow has a small but meaningful message written on his baseball bat
Against all the odds, New York Mets outfield prospect Tim Tebow is looking to one day play in the big leagues.
Of course, the Heisman Trophy winner-turned-NFL-quarterback-turned-professional baseball outfielder, who currently plays for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, still has a long way to go before he actually accomplishes that goal.
But Tebow is sticking with baseball because it’s his passion, as he told The Wall Street Journal in an interview last week.
“There’s so many other things that I could be doing that are a lot more money-driven and fame-seeking,” Tebow said. “But when I’m 50 years old, that’s not going to matter. What matters is pursuing a passion and doing something that’s in your heart.”
As Tebow continues to toil away in the minors, he’s made sure not to forget what matters: his strong Christian faith.
Football fans may remember that Tebow was always outspoken about his faith. During his college days playing for the Florida Gators, he painted “John 3:16” under his eyes, a reference to the famous Bible verse.
When Tim Tebow played for the Broncos & wore the eye black with John 3:16, it was googled more than 90 million times pic.twitter.com/JRYyEwIeAA
— Terri Green (@TerriGreenUSA) September 8, 2016
These days, Tebow has done something similar, writing “John 16:33” on his baseball bat, The Wall Street Journal reported.
In that verse, Jesus tells his disciples that though they may experience hardship in their lives, they can have peace through him, since Jesus has “overcome the world.”
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” Jesus says in the verse.
In addition to that Bible verse, Tebow’s walk-up song is “Whom Shall I Fear” by Christian artist Chris Tomlin.
Tebow has always attracted attention for his outspoken Christian faith and charismatic personality, but in the minor leagues, he’s also turning heads for another reason: his power at the plate.
Tebow is hitting just .240 overall, but he has four home runs and six doubles.
His most important blast of the year came earlier this month, when Tebow went deep for the third time in 11 games.
With the Rumble Ponies trailing the Erie SeaWolves 5-2 in the sixth inning, Tebow came up with two men on and connected on a fastball from Erie reliever Jeff Thompson. The blast easily cleared the right-center field wall and the game was tied 5-5.
Tebow’s power has caught the eye of the Rumble Ponies’ hitting coach, Valentino Pascucci.
“You watch him take batting practice, there’s no doubt about his power,” said Pascucci.
Tebow has a very long way to go, and he knows that, but for now, he’s happy with the progress he’s made.
“This is not something that you pick up after 12 years that comes to you that fast,” Tebow said. “But I feel like I’m adjusting, I’m getting there. This is something that I truly love.”
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