Tim overpowered in spring debut for Mets
PORT ST. LUCIE − Well, that was a dose of reality. Tim Tebow made his debut against major leaguers Wednesday and everyone got a glimpse of just how far away the Mets’ most famous minor leaguer is from playing in the major leagues.
The 29-year-old Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback went 0-for-3 Wednesday as the designated hitter in the Mets’ 8-7 win over the Red Sox at First Data Field. He struck out looking twice, grounded into a double play with the bases loaded (a run scored), was hit by a pitch and then doubled off first. He struggled to catch up with fastballs and showed his baseball naivete before he even took his first swing.
But, Tebow seemed happy with the experience.
“I think definitely it is a lot of things I’m trying to play catch up on and it’s just how fast can I catch up and how much ground can you make up,” Tebow said. “The time you can spend with (Mets hitting coach Kevin Long) and (first base coach Tom Goodwin) and work on the side the faster that will come. “It’s still a process.”
Wednesday made it clear to everyone it is going to be a long process. After having not played organized baseball for 12 years while he focused on his football and broadcasting careers, Tebow may not have the time or talent to make it to the big leagues.
“I don’t know,” Long said when asked if Tebow’s raw talent can get him to the highest level. “You need game action, you need to see a bigger sample. You see the raw power, see the ability in the cages and batting practice. It’s up there with some of the best hitters in the game, but it’s not game action.
“He needs those at-bats,” Long said. “He needs to be tested.”
Wednesday it was obvious he should be tested against minor league pitchers right now instead of big-leaguers. He’s overmatched at the plate.
“It’s where he’s at. Yeah, the reality is he hasn’t played a lot of baseball,” Long said. “As far as looking at it from there. That’s why it’s so important he goes and plays somewhere in the minor leagues.”
As one of the most famous faces in the complex, however, Tebow won’t get the chance to fade away and work on it in anonymity. With 11 players at the World Baseball Classic and a split-squad game again on Friday, Tebow will start that game in the outfield, which will certainly help ticket sales at First Data Field.
Wednesday, Tebow was outclassed from the start against Red Sox righthander Rick Porcello, who struck him out on four pitches. The reigning American League Cy Young winner got Tebow looking on a 92-mph fastball, the hardest pitch he threw all day. When asked if he at least rooted for Tebow when he wore the green-and-white uniform of his favorite football team, Porcello — a New Jerseyan — threw some shade.
“He didn’t play that much,” Porcello said of Tebow’s time with Gang Green.
That was about the harshest thing anyone would say on the record about Tebow, who is renowned for his charity work, his polite nature and his fan-friendly approach.
One scout, who had watched Tebow in the Arizona Fall League, said the long swing had not changed much and his baseball instinct was “near zero.”
That was obvious when Tebow got on base in the sixth after being plunked in the right shoulder. He charged off first base on contact and was easily doubled off when L.J. Mazzilli lined out to second.
“He just doesn’t know what to do,” the scout said.
It was also obvious before his first atbat, when, as Porcello was warming up, Tebow walked to the visitor’s on-deck circle — which made it look like he was timing pitches. Home plate umpire Ryan Addition quickly corrected him. Tebow laughed it off and so did Terry Collins, who was circumspect when talking about Tebow.
“I hope he had a lot of fun. It was good to have him over here,” the Mets manager said. “He plays with a lot of energy. It was his first game of spring ... I mean ... you can’t expect a lot.”
And Wednesday, the Mets got pretty much what everyone expected — a harsh dose of reality.