Tebow To Hold Workout For More Than 20 MLB Teams At End Of Month, Report Says
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Former NFL player Tim Tebow will reportedly be showing off his baseball skills at the end of the month for nearly two dozen teams.
FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reported the former Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback will have a showcase for teams on Aug. 30 in Los Angeles. It will be closed to the public.
According to ESPN, more than 20 MLB teams will attend Tebow's workout. ESPN also reported Tebow had a tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the season.
Tebow last played organized baseball in high school, hitting .494 as a junior for Nease High School in Florida. He didn't play baseball as a senior, concentrating instead on football.
"He was a six-tool player," Tebow's high school coach Greg "Boo" Mullins said in a 2013 interview with The Sporting News. "He has arm strength, he could run, he could hit, he could hit for power, he could field, but his character made him that six-tool guy."
Agent Brodie Van Wagenen, the co-head of CAA Baseball, said in a statement that the workout is not a publicity stunt.
"His work ethic is unprecedented, and his passion for the game is infectious. He knows the challenges that lie ahead of him given his age and experience, but he is determined to achieve his goal of playing in the Major Leagues," Van Wagenen said.
Tebow, who turns 29 on Sunday, has been training in Scottsdale with former major league catcher Chad Moeller.
"I am beyond impressed with Tim's athleticism and swing, and it goes without saying that he has shown a high level of discipline and strong work ethic," Moeller said in a statement released by CAA. "I see bat speed and power and real baseball talent. I truly believe Tim has the skill set and potential to achieve his goal of playing in the Major Leagues, and based on what I have seen over the past two months, it could happen relatively quickly."
CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson doesn't believe Tebow will reach the upper levels of the minor leagues.
"The available footage of Tebow taking hacks shows a long, stiff swing that's going to lead to huge strikeout totals. Add in his lack of recent exposure versus high-level pitching, and the likelihood that he's limited to an outfield corner or first base, and there's a good chance he whiffs himself out of organized ball in a hurry," Anderson wrote.
Tebow won the Heisman and two national championships with the University of Florida and was drafted in the first round by the Broncos in in 2010. He has not played in the NFL since 2012 with the Jets. He went to training camp with the New England Patriots in 2013 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 but was cut before the season each time.
New York Jets receiver Eric Decker, who was Tebow's teammate in Denver and who played baseball at the University of Minnesota, said he doesn't know if Tebow will be good enough, but he is confident people will pay to find out.
"I don't know what the chances are (of Tebow being successful), but if I was a Double-A or a Single-A team, I'm signing him to get the ticket sales up. I'm sure he'll have success in that field," Decker said.
Tebow already has drawn the attention of minor league teams that always are on the lookout for a successful promotion.
The Schaumburg, Illinois, Boomers of the Independent Frontier League issued a news release saying they have offered Tebow a contract .
"We're looking for an athletic outfielder who can bring some leadership and competitiveness into the clubhouse," Boomers manager Jamie Bennett said. "Tebow brings all of those characteristics and then some. I think he'd be a great fit here in Schaumburg."
The Fort Myers Miracle, a Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, quickly planned a "What Would Tim Tebow Do?" night.
As for the majors, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was asked if the team had any interest in Tebow.
"Are you insinuating we need a Hail Mary at this point?" he said.
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