Tough day for Tebow in MLB debut
Tim Tebow made his first rookie mistake even before stepping into the batter’s box.
The New York Mets newcomer walked behind home plate and took his practice swings near Boston’s on-deck circle.
“I didn’t know who that was back there. I thought it was the ball boy,” AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello said.
The former NFL quarterback’s debut as a big leaguer didn’t go much better Wednesday.
Tebow went 0 for 3, twice looking at strike three and also grounding into a double play with the bases loaded in a spring-training exhibition against the Red Sox.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner did safely reach when he was hit by a pitch in the right shoulder from fellow Florida alum Brian Johnson. But Tebow’s stay on base was brief — he got doubled off first on a line drive.
“It was a first day for me getting to compete. I’ll learn a lot from it. It’s kind of what I expected from a competition
hitter. Signed last fall, he’s in camp on a minor-league contract, hoping to make it as an outfielder. He’s next scheduled to play for the Mets in a split-squad game Friday against Houston, and manager Terry Collins said Tebow would be in the field.
“With almost anything I do, I get a little nervous because I care about it, the outcome and my teammates,” Tebow said. “But I’d also get nervous if I was going to talk to a high school football team before a game.”
Tebow was set to lead off the third inning for his first at-bat. The lefty hitter emerged from the Mets’ third-base dugout and crossed over to the Boston side, drifting toward the Red Sox on-deck circle and inching his way into Porcello’s view.
“I thought you walked around because you’re a left-hander. I found out you don’t do that,” Tebow said.
Porcello threw a fastball past Tebow, then got him to look at strike three. Tebow had a smile and friendly word for plate umpire Ryan Additon after getting called out.
* Cardinals 9, Nationals 3: Stephen Strasburg was hit hard in his second start, giving up six runs and seven hits in two innings. Jhonny Peralta hit an RBI groundout in the first, and Matt Adams, Patrick Wisdom and Harrison Bader followed with run-scoring singles. Aledmys Diaz had an RBI double in the second and scored on Adams’ sacrifice fly. The Cardinals’ Michael Wacha allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.