Although he’s not considered a real “prospect” in the New York Mets’ system, Tim Tebow is probably one of the most universally known minor leaguers in baseball. He answered some questions from the media before a game in Trenton on Tuesday.
When asked about the whole Tim Tebow experience in the New York Mets‘ organization, there’s typically two sides fans take — some love it and others hate it. There’s no in between.
Regardless of the side you’re on, he’s in Double-A with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Prior to a game against the Trenton Thunder on Tuesday, Tebow was asked about the possibility of getting a September call-up to the big leagues. His answer was what you’d expect him — or any ballplayer — to say, via SNY’s Twitter:
.@TimTebow talks in Trenton on Tuesday, and he’s not looking ahead further than that. pic.twitter.com/DYNk2JYERJ
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) June 19, 2018
Tebow even alluded to it himself — the reasoning behind the question being asked makes sense, but there was no chance he’d give a noteworthy soundbite for them to run with. He spent a year in the New York market with the New York Jets, so this isn’t exactly his first rodeo.
Watching him actually ascend to the big leagues in any kind of meaningful way has always been a long shot, and that hasn’t necessarily changed in his age-30 campaign. His numbers heading into Tuesday’s action don’t look all that much different from last year. He’s slashing .239/.324/.367 with four home runs, 21 RBI, and 23 runs scored in 204 plate appearances.
But for someone that hadn’t played competitive baseball in more than a decade, there’s been visible improvement in his swing from 2017 to 2018, especially when it was unveiled at the start of Spring Training. So if there’s one thing we can credit Tebow with, it’s for putting in the hours to try and get better. Or, as he says, focusing on the process.
He at least sounds like a ballplayer, right?
Bringing him up to the majors straight from High-A Port St. Lucie last year would’ve been a stretch. However, with another year of pro ball under his belt and being a level higher, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore.
If the Mets don’t find a way to crawl back into playoff contention, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Tebow donning the orange and blue in Queens this fall.
