The baseball dream may be coming true for 29-year-old Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, as the New York Mets announced they signed him to a Minor League contract Thursday morning. Tebow reportedly received a $100,000 signing bonus.
He will head to Florida on Sept. 19 for the Instructional League play to begin his career as a professional baseball player despite not playing organized baseball since high school. No stranger to the spotlight since his days at the University of Florida, news of Tebow’s desire to pursue a baseball career sparked plenty of discussion.
Despite most casting doubt on whether Tebow, a failed National Football League quarterback, can make the transition to Major League Baseball, a workout held on Dedeaux Field at the University of Southern California was attended by several scouts and media.
The Dodgers were represented by scouting director Billy Gasparino. Los Angeles reportedly held a private workout with Tebow prior to the 2016 season.
True to form with anything Tebow has been involved in, opinion of his showcase was split. Where there doesn’t appear to be differing takes is amongst MLB players.
Case in point is Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke questioning Tebow’s commitment to baseball, via Van Slyke’s Twitter account:
……..a couple times a week, or when it is convenient https://t.co/9eo2rxJInc
— ScottVanSlyke (@ScottVanSlick) September 8, 2016
Alex Wood also shared his critical view of Tebow’s signing, via Twitter:
The Mets are said to have signed Tebow with the understanding he would occasionally leave the organization to fulfill a contract agreement with the SEC Network as a college football analyst.
Tebow was taken No. 25 overall in the 2010 Draft by the Denver Broncos. He sparked a playoff run in 2011, then spent the following year with the New York Jets. Tebow last appeared in a regular-season NFL game during the 2012 season.
