Tebow ends 0-for-8 skid with first hit
Mets prospect gets opposite-field single, keeps ball.
Tim Tebow got his first hit for the New York Mets.
The former NFL quarterback singled Monday in an exhibition game against Marlins left-hander Kyle Lobstein in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Tebow, 29, was hitless in his first eight at-bats in spring training before his opposite-field single on a 2-2 pitch leading off the bottom of the fifth inning. He kept the ball, but was then erased on a double-play grounder.
Overall, Tebow went 1 for 3. That makes him 1 for 10 with four strikeouts and a hit by pitch in three spring training games.
“It was fun,” manager Terry Collins told Newsday. “He’s gotten better.”
Playing left field, the former Heisman Trophy winner also made a head-first diving catch in the second inning to rob Justin Bour of a hit.
Tebow was not made available to the media after the game.
Rockies: First baseman Ian Desmond will undergo surgery Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz. Desmond, who signed a $70 million, fiveyear contract in the offseason, broke the second metacarpal bone in his left hand when he was hit by a fast- ball from Reds right-hander Rookie Davis in Sunday’s spring training game. The Rockies have not announced a timetable for Desmond’s return. Desmond is making the transition to first base after entering the majors as a shortstop and playing in the outfield last year with Texas. Desmond hit .285 last season with 22 homers and 21 steals. Jordan Patterson, Gerardo Parra, Stephen Cardullo and Mark Reynolds figure to get more work at first base.
Blue Jays: Second baseman Devon Travis ran sprints in the outfield Monday, still unsure of his status for opening day. Travi s has been slowed by a bone bruise on his right knee, which had offseason surgery to remove a small flap of cartilage. Travis is taking batting practice and could get some at-bats as a designated hitter in minor league games this week. Also, third baseman Josh Donaldson, who injured his right calf while running sprints Feb. 17, is expected to play for the first time this spring in the next few days.
Royals: Catcher Salvador Perez’s return to spring camp was pushed back a day as a precaution. While catching for Team Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, Perez’s left knee was injured in a play at the plate with Italy ’s Drew Butera, who is the Royals’ backup catcher.
Red Sox: Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello threw five scoreless innings Monday in an intrasquad game, five days after being struck on the pitching hand by a batted ball.
Orioles: Pedro Alvarez will try shifting to the outfield in his return to Baltimore. A corner infielder with Pittsburgh and a DH with Baltimore last season, Alvarez finalized a minor league contract Monday and would get a $2 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man roster. Alvarez, who has never played the outfield in college or professionally, hit .249 with 22 homers and 49 RBIs last season.
Nationals: Bryce Harper had homered in three straight games before going 0 for 1 against Detroit on Monday. Five of his eight spring hits have been homers.
Tigers: Justin Verlander pitched one-hit ball for 4 2/3 scoreless innings Monday, striking out four in a 3-3 tie with the Nationals.
Phillies: Jeremy Hellickson struggled again Monday, allowing five earned runs in four innings in a 6-4 loss to the Orioles. The right-hander has a 6.92 spring ERA.
World Classic
Netherlands 12, Israel 2: Didi Gregorius drove in five runs in Tokyo as the Netherlands handed Israel its first loss of the tournament.