New York Mets: The Tim Tebow scouting report and timeline

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The New York Mets have invited Tim Tebow to Spring Training this year, one of nine minor leaguers to get the call thus far. Will he ever get a chance in the majors?

Let’s face it – there are not any minor league players that will attract attention like New York Mets farmhand Tim Tebow. From his exploits on the gridiron, particularly in college, Tebow gained a great deal of notoriety. Add in his incredible personality and story, and it is no surprise that he has amassed a legion of diehard fans and supporters.

Unsurprisingly, that fanbase is eagerly awaiting Tebow to reach the majors. However, that attempt to get to the Mets is going to be a long and arduous process. After all, prior to his appearance in the Arizona Fall League in 2016, he had not played baseball since high school. It certainly showed with his struggles thus far in his professional career.

Even with those strugges, the Mets are not giving up on Tebow. He has received an invitation to Spring Training, one of nine minor leaguers to be brought over as non roster invitees. While it is exceedingly unlikely that Tebow joins the Mets for Opening Day, getting more help from the major league coaching staff could help accelerate his development.

With the time and effort being expended with Tim Tebow, it is understandable that fans are wondering if, or when, he will reach the majors. Let us take a look at what that timeline could be.

What type of player is New York Mets minor leaguer Tim Tebow?

As one would have expected given his layoff, Tim Tebow struggled at times in his first year in the New York Mets system.

While he was promoted to High-A ball last year, his overall numbers do not show the stuff of a viable prospect. He produced a .226/.309/.347 batting line, hitting 24 doubles and eight homers. Tebow did have his moments with the bat, hitting a home run in his first plate appearance for the Columbia Fireflies, but those were few and far between.

In watching Tebow, there is no question that he has raw power, which will let him occasionally run into a ball and put it over the fence. The problem is that his swing will not allow him to do that consistently. His swing is long and slow, leading to problems catching up with a decent fastball. Tebow also has problems with pitch recognition, which is understandable given his time away from the sport. He can be fooled by changes in speed and location. As he climbs to higher levels, that will be far more of an issue.

Tebow’s speed does not translate well on the basepaths. While he is an aggressive runner, he lacks the instincts needed on the diamond. He stole only two bases last year, with four total attempts. Tebow just does not get a good read on the pitcher, and his time spend in football has led to a running style that limits his effectiveness on the bases.

On the positive side, there is no question that Tebow will work on his weaknesses as he looks to fulfill his dream of playing in the majors. That just may not be enough, as Tebow looks more like an actor impersonating a baseball player than someone who can become a legitimate prospect.

Can Tim Tebow at least make an impact upon the New York Mets defensively?

Even if Tim Tebow is not quite where one would hope offensively, he could still impact the New York Mets defensively, right?

Well, if one means in a positive way, that would likely be a no. Some of his problems in the NFL as a quarterback plague him as an outfielder as well. His footwork is problematic, as he has a slow first step towards the ball. This may change as he gets more reps in the field in practice or in games, but he is right now a below average defensive player in left.

Tebow’s arm is also an issue in the outfield. While left fielders do not need to have a great arm, his arm is below average even for the position. He has issues with accuracy and his throwing motion is subpar in baseball as well. It is not just NFL quarterback Tebow that struggled with throwing the ball – those issues followed him to professional baseball.

Given his issues defensively, Tebow is strictly a left fielder at this point. For the most part, teams regard left as an important position in the lineup, wanting someone that can make an impact with the bat if they are subpar defensively. Tebow is not that player, limiting the potential impact he has on the field.

At this point, Tebow looks like his upside is to be a mid level minor league depth player, someone who may struggle mightily at the higher levels. However, as we all know, that does not mean anything with Tim Tebow.

So, will Tim Tebow play in the majors for the New York Mets?

Based on his scouting report, one would think that Tim Tebow will never suit up for the New York Mets at the major league level. But this is not an ordinary minor leaguer.

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The fact of the matter is, Tebow puts fans in the stands. People will be interested in seeing what he will do when he steps on the field, even if Tebow is not a real prospect. His name alone is enough to attract attention.

His ability as a drawing card may be enough to earn a callup to the majors as soon as this year. Should the Mets find themselves out of contention once again in September, he could make his major league debut once rosters expand. It would give fans a reason to head out to Citi Field during the final month of the season, as there would always be the chance that Tebow could get into the lineup. And just imagine if he managed to hit a home run.

At best, Tebow would be nothing more than a fifth outfielder, a great bench presence and a clubhouse guy that would be a beloved teammate. If he does manage to improve in his development, and somehow hold his own in the minors in 2018, his next stop could be in New York.

Next: Tebow circus not entertaining

If the New York Mets are out of contention in 2018, do not be surprised to see Tim Tebow patrolling the outfield. Just do not expect much from him as a baseball player.

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