Strong will
els. Yet there are those like his mentor, Gary Sheffield, who, though he might be frustrated over Tebow’s batting stance change, still believes he can make it.
“I saw Tim this winter, and I told him I don’t approve of his new technology of hitting,” Sheffield, who hit 509 home runs without striking out more than 83 times in a season, told USA TODAY Sports. “His swing is completely different. He’s got this uppercut now that’s built for homers instead of trying to get backspin to hit line drives that turn into homers. I don’t like that approach when you’re trying to learn the game again.
“But I still believe in him because of his will. He has a will like no other. And when a guy wants to do something so bad, he can do whatever he wants. “I would never bet against him.” Tebow conceded Monday that he has slightly altered his swing, widening his stance, with more of an uppercut designed for power. Yet the revised swing actually came from talking with Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, his Jacksonville neighbor, who worked out with him over the winter.
“Murph was telling him the importance that if you’ve got power, and it’s in there, get the ball in the air,” Mets hitting coach Kevin Long said. “Ground balls don’t do you any good. So I don’t know if it’s an uppercut as much as just trying to elevate the ball.
“He wasn’t getting any extra- base hits, and he wasn’t driving the ball like he’s capable. You watch him take BP now, and you see the ball come off his bat. He needs to get the ball in the air.”
Tebow put on a power show during batting practice Monday, hitting six of his nine home runs to the opposite field, and no one was having more fun. When he wasn’t launching balls over the outfield fence, he was picking up the loose baseballs. He was the only minor leaguer to carry a bucket of balls on his own from the outfield to the pitcher’s mound. He also was the only player to help the coaches set up the pitching mound mat.
When his day was done, and the rest of his teammates walked toward the clubhouse in anonymity, Tebow was signing autographs, taking selfies and signing books and even a Gators football helmet.
“I just think that with all of the things going on in this world, our young kids have somebody to look up to,” said DarleneMcChesney, 67, of Corry, Pa. “He’s a role model, not these guys who always get in trouble. I want him to make it here, follow his dream and be a role model for our country.”
Tebow had no interest in sharing his opinion of his chances of making the big leagues, even if it’s only for a day, but says this was never his dream. He was a sports star, playing in 35 NFL games with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets after his storied college career, but his life is hardly built around sports. It’s merely a podium, he says, to share his beliefs and philanthropy.
“What pressure do you have if you’re 0- for- 12 and you’re at the plate versus someone that is fighting for their life?” Tebow said. “For me, there’s not a comparison. It’s not my biggest calling. I want my life to be so much more than that.
“I want to be someone that was known for bringing faith, hope and love to those needing brighter days in their darkest hour of need. I amso grateful for sports, because it’s given me a platform to be able to share and love and care for people all over the world.
“I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”