Mets promote Tebow
Tim Tebow is moving up and heading south — to some very familiar territory.
Tebow has been promoted to the Mets’ high Class A affiliate in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Tebow, 29, led Florida to two national championships in football and won the 2007 Heisman Trophy.
“I’m not sure how much of an additional challenge it will be,” New York general manager Sandy Alderson said Sunday at AT&T Park. “Clearly it’s a step up. I certainly think he can handle it.”
Tebow began his first pro baseball season with Class A Columbia, S.C., drawing big crowds throughout the South Atlantic League. He entered his final Fireflies game batting .222 with three home runs and 23 RBIs.
“I wouldn’t say he has excelled there, but at the same time, what he’s done there — given all the circumstances — justified the promotion to Port St. Lucie,” Alderson said. Cubs’ Russell hurting: Cubs shortstop Addison Russell left in the fourth inning of Chicago’s 4-2 loss to the Marlins with “a sharp, pinching pain” in his right, throwing shoulder, which has bothered him at times since last season. He’ll probably miss Monday’s game at Washington, and perhaps more.
“It’s a long season,” said Russell, whose error on a first-inning grounder led to three unearned runs for Miami. “I know I’m strong enough to make it through, but each year is going to bring new things that you have to get over.”
Russell said he would receive treatment, but wasn’t sure about tests.
Manager Joe Maddon said the initial medical report wasn’t as bad as he feared.
“I’m hearing with maintenance, he should be able to play,” Maddon said. “But we will know more Monday . ... It’s nothing debilitating, just nagging.” Ichiro oldest to start in center field: Ichiro Suzuki became the oldest player to start a game in center field since at least 1900.
Suzuki, 43, batted leadoff and went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .200. He reached on an error and scored in the first inning in the Marlins’ 4-2 win over the Cubs.
Suzuki surpassed the record held by Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who was a month younger when he started in center in 2002 for the Red Sox. Like Old Timers: Jorge Posada, Don Larsen, Whitey Ford and new Hall of Famer Tim Raines got some of the biggest ovations at Yankee Stadium during the 71st Old Timers’ Day.
It was Posada’s first since the switch-hitting catcher retired after the 2011 season, and Raines will be inducted in Cooperstown ceremonies next month.
In the game, Bernie Williams doubled and scored the only run, Reggie Jackson, 71, ripped a ball to right that Jesse Barfield caught, Mickey Rivers tracked down a Henderson liner, putting it away with a basket catch at his hip, and reliever Sparky Lyle, 72, tripped trying to field a Rivers dribbler. Briefly: Cardinals center fielder Dexter Fowler went on the disabled list with a quadriceps injury . ... Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks will go on the DL after injuring his rib cage on the right side during a check swing in the first inning Sunday. He was told his recovery would take three to four weeks . ... Slumping Brewers catcher Jett Bandy was optioned to Triple-A when Milwaukee claimed former A’s catcher Stephen Vogt on waivers . ... Carlos Rodon rejoined the White Sox and will make his first start of the season this week after being sidelined because of bursitis in his left biceps.