Heaven to Hell: Tebow’s hitting cools off

The praise is heavenly. The hitting? Not as much.

After a nice stretch at the plate from late April to mid-May, Tim Tebow has cooled. The Single-A Mets outfielder has slumped to a .222/.307/.345 slash line entering Saturday.

A 16-game stretch in which the 28-year-old caught fire had inspired preliminary talk of a promotion, according to The Post’s Mike Puma. But in 22 games since, the former Heisman Trophy winner and Jets quarterback batted .183 (13for-71), launching one home run and driving in five. In the span, he has struck out 28 times.

Even with the preacher struggling, the choir of disciples still is singing.

“I think he’s close,” Columbia manager Jose Leger said last week. “He’s made improvements. There’s some inconsistencies along the way. But the way he goes about his business, he can handle anything. His at-bats, you can see quality there.

“After a couple of good weeks where he gets a feel for what he wants to do at the plate, he’ll be ready. He’s close. We’re just waiting on that decision.”

Leger said he has seen The Tebow Effect throughout this year, pointing specifically to how the NFL flameout inspired infielder Milton Ramos during a recent game.

“[Ramos] was upset because he was having a bad game. I saw him from the third-base coaching box — [Tebow] just went up to him and talked to him for a while and said, ‘It’s OK.’ And then the next inning Ramos went out there and made a diving catch. Giving him that advice kept his head in the game.”

The Mets are hoping Tebow, who declined comment, can harness his power. He had three home runs in 171 at-bats.

“He’s a great presence in the clubhouse,” said Ian Levin, the Mets’ director of minor league operations, “and [a] great mentor for some of the younger players.”

Gleyber Torres needed a bit of time to adjust to Triple-A pitching, rapping five hits in his first eight games.

But the Yankees’ top prospect, who has been bouncing from second to third to shortstop in the field, has found his groove.

In his past eight games entering Saturday, Torres had gone 10-for-29 (.345) with two home runs and eight RBIs.