Not that Amazin’: Tebow demoted to minor league camp

PORT ST. LUCIE— Tim Tebow had no illusions about breaking camp with the Mets, but his only regret was he couldn’t put his best foot forward. Almost literally. The former Heisman Trophy winner, who has been bothered by a sprained left ankle for much of spring training, was among the players demoted to minor league camp Tuesday in the first wave of cuts.

“It ’s not like it was a shock,” said Tebow, who was batting .056 with 11 strikeouts in 18 at-bats in the exhibition season. “They have been super-honest the whole time. We have great relationships and conversations, so it’s not like, ‘Oh my gosh.’”

Though the 30-year-old Tebow has been reassigned to the minors, he can still make cameos in Grapefruit League games for the Mets. Tebow is among those listed on the travel squad to face the Marlins on Wednesday, but indicated he hasn’t been told for sure he is still going.

Tebow has been limited to a DH role after spraining his ankle last month when he tripped on a sprinkler head in the outfield during drills.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t do as much with my ankle as I wanted to, which is kind of disappointing ,” Tebow said. “But I got to put in a lot of good work and I am feeling I am improving, so that is good.”

Tebow is expected to begin the season at Double-A Binghamton after splitting last season between Single-A Columbia and High-A St. Lucie. Recently, general manager Sandy Alderson indicated he expects Tebow to reach the major leagues.

“That’ s definitely the goal, so it will just be putting in work every day and hopefully one day you get that opportunity,” Tebow said .“But you can’ t be focused on just the end result, it’ s got to be on every day, on the process, going back every day and looking at film. Just having the longterm mindset with a here-and-now focus, and that is something I have had my entire baseball time and I will continue to do that.”

Others jettisoned to minor league camp were pitchers Gerson Bautista, Jamie Callahan, Marcos Molina and Corey Oswalt, all of whom were optioned. Kevin McGowan was reassigned to minor league camp with Tebow.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Michael Conforto’s rehab from shoulder surgery has progressed about as well as he and the Mets could have wanted.

And the surest sign yet that Conforto’s absence from the Mets’ lineup could be limited in the regular season may come next week, when the outfielder expects to play in a Grapefruit League game for the first time this spring.

Conforto indicated Tuesday he is expecting to play in minor league games this week and barring any setback would likely get into an exhibition game with the Mets before the Grapefruit League season concludes on March 25.

“I think I will definitely play in an exhibition game,” said Conforto, noting he has progressed to the point in his rehab where he is doing everything except playing in a game.

If Conforto plays in an exhibition game, he would likely be on track to return before the May 1 timetable in place.

➤ Jake Arrieta’s arrival to the Phillies on a three-year deal worth $75 million could have been worse for the Mets in Jay

Bruce’s estimation. After all, the star right-hander could have signed with the Nationals.

“The more guys you can stack in one rotation, the tougher it’s going to be to beat them in a full season,” Bruce said, referring to the Nationals. “But [Arrieta] adds to the division most definitely, and the Phillies are a team that is going to make some noise this year for sure, but we’re going to be ready for every team we play, so I am not too worried about it.”

➤ Zack Wheeler’s bid for a rotation spot took a step backward with an ugly performance against the Nationals in a Mets split-squad game.

The right-hander, who is battling Steven Matz for the last spot in the rotation, allowed five earned runs on seven hits and two walks over three innings. It was Wheeler’s first clunker of the exhibition season after three straight solid performances.

➤ Jeurys Familia, who has been bothered by recent shoulder tightness, had a throwing session Tuesday and is expected to pitch again in later in the week. ...

Anthony Swarzak (right calf ) is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Wednesday.