Tebow looks every bit like rookie in spring debut with Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Tim Tebow made his first rookie mistake even before stepping into the batter’s box. The Mets newcomer walked behind home plate and took his practice swings near Boston’s on-deck circle.

“I didn’t know who that was back there. I thought it was the ball boy,” AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello said.

The former NFL quarterback’s debut as a big leaguer didn’t go much better Wednesday. Tebow went 0-for-3, twice looking at strike three and also grounding into a double play with the bases loaded in an exhibition game against the Red Sox.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner did reach when he was hit by a pitch from fellow Florida alum Brian Johnson. But Tebow’s stay on base was brief — he got doubled off first on a line drive.

“I’ll learn a lot from it,” Tebow said after the Mets’ 8-7 win. “It’s kind of what I expected from a competition level.”

Tebow, 29, was the designated hitter. Signed last fall, he is in camp on a minor league deal, hoping to make it as an outfielder. He’s next scheduled to play in a split-squad game Friday against the Astros, and manager Terry Collins said Tebow would be in the field.

Dutch, Israel advance in WBC

Jurickson Profar drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Netherlands to a 6-5 win over Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic at Seoul, South Korea.

The Netherlands improved to 2-0 in Pool A and advanced to the second round along with Israel, which also is 2-0.

In Pool B, Japan improved to 2-0 with a 4-1 win over Australia at Tokyo. The Astros’ Nori Aoki was hitless in four at-bats but walked and scored a run for the winners.