IMMACULATE CONNECTION
Tebow homers in first minor league at-bat
And on the first day, he homered. Mets farmhand Tim Tebow hit a home run in his first at-bat for the Single-A Columbia Fireflies on Thursday night against the Augusta GreenJackets in Columbia, S.C. The former Jets and Broncos quarterback took a Domenic Mazza 2-1 pitch in the second inning and hit it to the opposite field for a two-run home run. “All of my sports experiences helped me for moments like that,” Tebow told reporters. That was the lone highlight of the night for Tebow, though. He went 1for-5 in the game, striking out three times, twice looking. Tebow’s team won 14-7, a perfect score for the college football legend. The home run came with a 15 mph wind blowing out. Tebow stopped at second base, thinking it was a double, but the ball hit the railing above the fence and an umpire signaled home run. Tebow clapped and pumped his fist as he headed home, bringing the minorleague crowd to its feet. “Special things happen to special people. And that was a special moment,” Columbia manager Jose Leger said.
Tebow, who signed with the Mets last fall, hit seventh and played left field for the Fireflies. The Heisman Trophy winner at Florida is trying to make it as a baseball player after washing out as an NFL quarterback.
This is not the first time Tebow hit a dramatic home run. He also hit one in his first at-bat of the instructional league last fall. He did not have as much success in spring training this year, though. He batted .148 in 27 at-bats, striking out eight times and finished with no RBIs.
In his second at-bat on Thursday night, Tebow grounded out to shortstop. He then struck out his next three times up — twice looking.