TEBOW AT THE BAT:
Tim spent offseason with Mets’ nemesis
PORT ST. LUCIE — All Tim Tebow wants to do is have fun playing baseball. Even if the fun includes training with an old Mets playoff stud who now stars for the rival Nationals.
Tebow, the former University of Florida Heisman Trophy winner-turned-Mets outfield prospect, held court again at the Mets’ spring training complex Monday, five months after he reported to Instructional League in Port St. Lucie. But while Monday’s events were not near the circus that unfolded last September — when a news helicopter hovered over the complex and 60-plus media members watched Tebow’s every move — there were some interesting new layers to the Tebow baseball odyssey, including Tebow’s Thanksgiving workout with Daniel Murphy. Yes, that Daniel Murphy. “We happen to be neighbors (in Jacksonville, Fla.), so that helps,” Tebow said of Murphy. “We had the Mets’ tie. We became friends, trained a lot. He’s kind of as much of an addict for sports as I am. Even Thanksgiving morning, we were out there hitting before he had to go back and get to his wife and family. That’s how addicted he is.”
Tebow demonstrated some Murphy-like power at the plate Monday, socking nine home runs in four rounds of batting practice. Fans wearing Tebow T-shirts gawked even while the former NFL signal-caller stretched out and ran various drills on the minor-league side of camp. As for his baseball ability, Tebow was no more discouraged Monday talking about the daunting challenge ahead of him – trying to make it to the majors after last playing organized baseball in high school. “I’m not going to worry about what everyone’s writing or however I’m being marketed. For me, I just want to be able to continue the process, enjoy the process, have fun out there,” Tebow, 29, said. “I think one goal would be: Better every day. The other goal is to take the progress and the things that I’ve learned the last three months and apply those every single day. Continue to build on those things.”
Tebow may be a marketing gimmick in many people’s eyes — his No. 15 T-shirts were being sold outside the First Data Field complex — but Tebow said he doesn’t need to gauge the odds of whether or not he’ll make a big league roster one day. “I don’t have to give my chances,” said Tebow. Asked if he felt he was any closer to being on a major league roster, Tebow said, “Gosh, I hope so. That’s why we put in the work. But that’s not just the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to be able to enjoy it every day. I can honestly sit here before every one of you and say I’ve had so much fun, training, pursuing it.”
Tebow hit .194 in 19 games, including 20 whiffs, in the Arizona Fall League last year. Murphy was one baseball force Tebow worked with during the winter, and he also
teamed up with Mets hitting coach Kevin Long. The ex-Jet showed Monday that he still has a sense of humor, when a reporter asked about Tebow’s disastrous, one-year Gang Green tenure, which was nearly five years ago. Tebow was on the depth chart behind Mark Sanchez and was barely used by thencoach Rex Ryan. When a reporter asked if the Jets had given Tebow a fair shake, he responded: “Where did that come from? Been holding onto that one for three years?”
“That’s not for me to decide at all,” Tebow added. “The one thing with the Jets situation was I learned so much from it. I’m grateful for the highs there, which weren’t really many. Not necessarily the most fun situation. I think that everything happens for a reason.”
Whether baseball is the reason Tebow’s football career took a detour for the better remains to be seen. But even if the baseball thing fizzles, Tebow seems content with whatever outcome awaits. The devout Christian underscored that while he’s “grateful” that sports have given him a platform to use his voice and advance his foundation work to help disadvantaged children around the world, at the end of the day he said his purpose is a greater one beyond the baseball diamond and football field. “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 asked. “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 a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.”