Batting practice HRs
Ex-Heisman winner hopes to make it in majors as outfielder.
Tim Tebow quickly got into the swing of spring training, hitting nine home runs in batting practice Monday during his first workout with the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback is hoping to make it to the majors as an outfielder. He signed a minor league contract in September.
Tebow, 29, played in the Arizona Fall League, struggling against top prospects from other teams. He hit .194 and struck out 20 times in 62 at-bats.
“It’s so much about how you’re able to handle things mentally, and that’s not just the highs, it’s also the lows,” the lefty hitter said.
“Baseball can really exploit that if you’re not ready for it — to be ready for the droughts and be able to handle the highs and lows. I think I was 0 for my first 13 (in Arizona), so I was like, ‘OK, that’s going to happen.’ But I’m going to bounce back, and I think I was able to do that.”
Mets manager Terry Collins has said he wants Tebow to appear in some Grapefruit League games.
Reds: Anthony DeSclafani was scratched from his first scheduled start of spring training because of a tender elbow. The right-hander, 26, felt some tenderness in his elbow after throwing batting practice this month. Manager Bryan Price said skipping the start, scheduled for today, was more of a precaution.
“There’s no red alert at this time,” Price said. “At this point in time, we don’t have grave concerns that he won’t be ready for the opening-day roster.” DeSclafani was 9-5 with a 3.28 ERA last season with the Reds.
Cardinals: Out of the big leagues last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Lance Lynn pitched two innings Monday as a split squad beat the Nationals 5-4. The right-hander, 29, allowed one run on four hits and a walk. He didn’t factor in the decision. “He looked outstanding,” ace Adam Wainwright said.
White Sox: Third baseman Todd Frazier (left side soreness) took about 35 swings and 35 grounders at the team’s spring facility in Arizona. “There is no rush,” manager Rick Renteria said. “At this point we’re going to take it slowly.”
Rangers: Josh Hamilton, 35, had an arthroscopic procedure Monday in Houston to repair some damaged meniscus cartilage in his left knee after experiencing pain last week while running at training camp. There were no issues with the surgically repaired ACL in that knee. The 2010 AL MVP, in camp on a minor league contract, faces six weeks of rehabilitation before he will be able to start running again.
Padres: Catcher Christian Bethancourt is getting regular work with the pitchers this spring. San Diego hopes Bethancourt will play some outfield as well as pitching and catching — perhaps some or all of the above in the same game during the season. Bethancourt, 25, will pitch for the first time in the Cactus League today in a split-squad game.
Yankees: Shortstop Didi Gregorius is part of the Netherlands team that opens the World Baseball Classic against South Korea in Seoul on March 7 and could advance to the second round in Tokyo, which starts March 12. Yankees manager Joe Girardi thinks Gregorius will be back with the team early enough “that he’ll have plenty of time to reset his clock” ahead of the season opener at Tampa Bay on April 2.
Cubs: Team officials said they hope to meet with Chicago city officials in the next few months to plan a bid for the 2020 All-Star Game at Wrigley Field.