TIM TIME Mets send Tebow back to minors as they make

PORT ST. LUCIE — Tim Tebow’s contention for a spot on the Mets’ majorleague roster lasted less than three weeks. The former NFL quarterback was part of the team’s first cuts from camp on Friday.

Tebow departs from his fourth big-league spring training having recorded his first Grapefruit League home run last week against the Tigers.

The remainder of camp cuts include: left-handers Stephen Gonsalves and Thomas Szapucki, righthanders Jordan Humphreys, Franklyn Kilome, Matt Blackham, Nick Rumbelow, Francisco Ríos and Stephen Nogosek and catchers Austin Bossart and David Rodríguez.

Last year, Tebow was cut from camp later in the Mets’ spring training schedule. It’s possible the Mets cut him earlier because he’s scheduled to play for Team Philippines in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers from March 12-25 in Tucson, Arizona.

Despite his first spring training homer, Tebow struggled both defensively and at the plate for the Mets this spring. He hit .154 (2for-13) with six strikeouts across 10 Grapefruit League appearances and looked hesitant and uncomfortable in the outfield.

He made SportsCenter‘s “Not Top 10” plays on Friday after tripping during his attempt to catch a fly ball in left field against the Cardinals last week.

Tebow is two years removed from his best minorleague season — when he made the Double-A All-Star team in 2018 — and hit .273/ .336/.399 with six homers, 36 RBI and a .734 OPS over 84 games. He slashed .163/.240/ .255 over 77 games in his first season at Triple-A Syracuse in 2019, and is likely to play