So former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow wants to play in the MLB? Here are five organizations that could have interest in Tebow.
After being out of the NFL for the last few years, former first-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow is again pursuing his career in professional sports. The run-first, southpaw quarterback that struggles to complete 50% of his passes now wants to give it a shot in Major League Baseball.
Tebow was a two-sport athlete while at Nease High School in Jacksonville. He was an All-State outfielder, hitting over .400 in three years of high school ball. Tebow didn’t play his senior year, as he had already committed to play for Urban Meyer at the University of Florida on the Gators football team.
Given that Tebow’s NFL career has come to a close before his 30th birthday, perhaps he feels inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan to push for his dreams on the baseball diamond. Jordan did retire in his prime to play minor league baseball for the Chicago White Sox’s AA affiliate in the Birmingham Barons, ironically owned by Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
Tebow would have to play in the outfield as he is left-handed, meaning it would be nearly impossible for him to catch or play third base, shortstop, or left field. Since he can’t complete 50% of his passes from the pocket, maybe the pitcher’s mound isn’t his calling either. First base is too run of the mill, so outfield it is then. Here are five organizations that could look at Tebow in the outfield for whatever reason.
Next: 5. Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays need some sort of energy injected into their baseball organization. After being a competitive franchise despite a shoestring budget during the Joe Maddon era, the Rays have become largely irrelevant in the American League East the last few years.
Attendance is always an issue in cavernous Tropicana Field. Going on 20 years later as a professional franchise, Tampa Bay struggles to draw respectable Major League crowds. There are a ton of people all over Central Florida, but it has been difficult to get people from Orlando to take the hour and a half drive to St. Petersburg.
One way that the Rays organization can galvanize the Central Florida baseball population is to sign Jacksonville native and former Florida Gators star quarterback Tebow. Tebow is a media lightning rod like few in the business. He is beloved in Central Florida from his dominant days on the gridiron in Gainesville.
He could play outfield, pinch hit, or maybe even some first base on a team that largely isn’t going anywhere in the next few years. Frugal Tampa Bay doesn’t have to pay him more than the league minimum and the Rays organization could profit from the Gator faithful looking to enjoy themselves on hot summer days with no football, watching Tebow try to play baseball in the climate-controlled indoor monstrosity that is Tropicana Field. Tebow doesn’t have to be good, just entertaining for Tampa Bay to reap the benefits.
Next: 4. Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s window of competitiveness is rapidly closing if it already hasn’t. Yes, they still have arguably the most gifted player in the entire American League in centerfielder Mike Trout, but a rebuild is inevitable with Los Angeles’ Junior Circuit team.
It will be tough to undergo a massive rebuilding project in a major media market like Los Angeles with a perennial National League contender across town in the Los Angeles Dodgers. So how will the Angels figure out how to stay on people’s radar during a lengthy rebuilding process?
The baseball club that was once owned by the Signing Cowboy Gene Autry could use the entertainment effect on its fan base and sign Tebow to a Minor League deal just to see what happens. Being a left-handed outfielder makes more since for Tebow to sign with an American League team so he could DH if need be.
Seeing Tebow and Trout share an outfield would have to be one of the more ridiculous things to have ever happened in Major League Baseball history. It would feel like a complete schtick, much in the same vein of innovative owner Bill Veeck using a little person Eddie Gaedel to draw a walk for the then St. Louis Browns.
Who wouldn’t want to see Tebow as an Angel when so many of his faithful followers already think he is one? Angels in the Outfield, more like Tebow in the Outfield. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, start flapping your wings.
Next: 3. Miami Marlins
Why is it that the Miami Marlins are seem to find themselves linked to these sort of ridiculous rumors? While they would actually be the best National League market to sign Alex Rodriguez, could the Marlins in the midst of a pennant race with their best corps arguably ever have any interest in signing Tebow?
Probably not, but Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria always does things differently. He grew up a die hard fan of the New York Yankees and tries to build his franchise with a bit of the glitz and glamor associated with the perennial power in pinstripes.
Tebow did play for the state’s flagship university and still might have some pull from South Floridians that like the Gators over the Hurricanes or Seminoles. Getting to see Tebow track down fly balls next to that eyesore of a sculpture in centerfield at Marlins Park. Seeing Tebow gab with Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds on the bench would be almost surreal to endure via the television set.
The Marlins always seem to draft well and have their farm system stocked with great future MLB players. Putting Tebow through the Marlins system might actually make him into a halfway decent outfielder. If he can get his baseball chops up to par, he could be fit right in with all that comes with playing baseball in Miami.
Next: 2. New York Yankees
With the Alex Rodriguez saga graciously coming to an end at the end of the week, where does this leave the New York Yankees? The most iconic franchise in MLB history is now going to enter 2017 as one of the most boring. The Yankees have no personality and need a spark in the locker room.
Enter Tebow. He was a media sensation for the city’s New York Jets a few years back. That was when all the media attention he garners became a huge distraction. In short, Tebow handled the media well, but the lowly Jets didn’t handle his year with the team all that well.
Tebow can play in the outfield in pinstripes. He’d be a more interesting version of Brett Gardner. Tebow would hit .200 just like Rodriguez has done in 2016 for a trivial fraction of the cost. The Bronx faithful would probably show up to boo the failed Jets quarterback. Given that he is part of the media now with ESPN, Tebow is well-equipped to handle all that comes with playing in New York.
The Yankees are likely going to need another year before their reloaded farm system starts yielding Major League ready products. 2017 could be another down year for the Yankees in the American League East.
Having Tebow playing in the Yankees outfield would be a far cry from the rosters they once had in place on their 27 World Series Championship teams. The Yankees don’t want to lose ground in New York when the inter-city rival New York Mets are in win-now mode. The Tebow Effect won’t necessarily galvanize the Yankees’ locker room, but it would be interesting and couldn’t be as caustic as 12 years of Rodriguez.
Next: 1. Colorado Rockies
Outside of Central Florida if there is one part of the country that simply adores Tebow, it is the great people of Denver, Colorado. Tebow Mania was a thing, as Tebow lead the 2011 Broncos to a .500 record, an AFC West Division Championship, and an upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Playoffs with a game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass.
In short, there is still and likely always will be somewhat of a soft spot for Tebow in the Mile High City. With the city’s Major League club rarely in playoff contention because of the adverse affects Denver’s high altitude has on its pitching staff, the best place for Tebow to begin his Major League career would be with the Colorado Rockies.
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The Broncos are still Denver’s team and people will be screaming his last name at all times at Coors Field during Rockies games. It would be a major distraction to the visiting team and might help the Rockies secure a dominant home field advantage.
Coors Field’s outfield is spacious to account for the elevation issues with playing in Denver. Tebow would try really hard on all fly balls in the outfield and would either make sensational catches or look foolish in the effort doing so.
Now here’s something else to think about. Tebow hit .400 in high school. Given that Coors Field grossly favors hitters, could Tebow theoretically hit for a high average at home for the Rockies? Seemingly anybody with two hands can hit close to .300 for the Rockies.
Yes, there will absolutely be a staggering home/road split in Tebow’s batting average, but the Rockies are the team that needs to sign him to give Tebow the best shot at fooling us into thinking that he’s a really good baseball player.