Comfortable Tebow homers in workout
Tim Tebow says he’s just trying to get better each day in the New York Mets’ instructional league. After two days, so far, so good.
Tebow homered to right during batting practice on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., one day after the quarter-back-turned-baseball-hopeful put three balls off the fence at the Mets’ training complex.
“Felt a little more comfortable with a day under my belt, just getting more used to everything, the preparations,” said Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner from Florida and former NFL quarterback. “All those silly things that you have to go through, right? Getting in the building, finding everything that you need, cafeteria, everything, and just getting used to the routine.”
When instructional-league games start, Tebow expects to play — though there’s no firm plan yet for what will happen after these three weeks, such as whether he’ll go to the Arizona Fall League. MLB rules violations: Commissioner Rob Manfred is confident Major League Baseball teams fully disclose medical records, but said his office has demonstrated that it will use discipline as a way to discourage rules violations.
Manfred’s comments during an appearance in Texas on Tuesday came less than a week after MLB suspended Padres general manager A.J. Preller for 30 days without pay for his actions in the Drew Pomeranz trade to Boston.
The punishment for failing to disclose medical information given to the San Diego executive was unprecedented in baseball.
Though Manfred wouldn’t get into his reasoning for that penalty, he said, “I think the penalty speaks for itself.” Yankees’ update: The Yankees reinstated outfielder Aaron Hicks (strained hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list and inserted him into the lineup Tuesday against Tampa Bay. He went 1-for-4 with a walk.
Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury didn’t rule out starting Wednesday night. He bruised his right knee sliding into a bullpen wall at Boston.
Third baseman Chase Headley was out of the lineup for the a second straight game because of back spasms. Little Brewers: Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun and catcher Manny Piña are away from the team after their families each welcomed a new addition. Manager Craig Counsell expects both to return before the end of the week. Braun’s wife, Larisa, recently gave birth to a son, Greyson Joseph. The couple also has a daughter, Celine. Piña’s wife, Leny, had a daughter, Jimena.