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.