Report: EX-NFL QB Tim Tebow Pursuing A Career In Baseball
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- This should be interesting.
Unable to get back into the NFL, polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow apparently has another sport in mind.
According to report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the former Heisman Trophy winner wants to try his luck in Major League Baseball.
Tebow, who has been employed by ESPN of late, hopes to latch on with an MLB team as an outfielder. The soon-to-be 29-year-old has been working out in Arizona and Los Angeles for the better part of the last year, Schefter reported, but has not played baseball full-time since 2005, when he was still in high school.
All 30 MLB teams will be invited to Tebow's workout at the end of August, Schefter reported.
"Obviously we support Tim in his pursuit of a baseball career, as we have in all his ventures," said Jimmy Sexton, Tebow's football agent. "Tim's athletic ability, his work ethic, his leadership and his competitiveness were evident in football and will show in baseball. Knowing Tim's passion and desire, we won't be surprised by anything he accomplishes."
Tebow's baseball agent is CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen.
"This may sound like a publicity stunt, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have seen Tim's workouts, and people inside and outside the industry -- scouts, executives, players and fans -- will be impressed by his talent," Van Wagenen said.
Tebow has been honing his baseball skills under the tutelage of ex-MLB catcher Chad Moeller.
"I am beyond impressed with Tim's athleticism and swing, and it goes without saying that he has shown a high level of discipline and strong work ethic," Moeller said in a statement. "I see bat speed and power and real baseball talent. I truly believe Tim has the skill set and potential to achieve his goal of playing in the major leagues, and based on what I have seen over the past two months, it could happen relatively quickly."
Despite legions of fans -- as well as his fair share of detractors -- Tebow largely struggled during his three-year NFL career. He did, however, have his moments. "Tebow-Mania," as it came to be known, gripped a large portion of the sports public after the unorthodox left-handed QB led the Denver Broncos to a playoff berth with wins in seven of 11 starts during the 2011 season.
But Broncos general manager John Elway never bought in to the public's fascination with Tebow and instead traded him to the Jets in 2012 for a pair of draft picks. While with New York, Tebow, despite his best intentions, proved to be nothing more than a gigantic distraction. He played in just 12 games and threw only eight passes. He was used mostly in short-yardage running situations and on special teams as a punt protector.
Tebow had tryouts with a few other teams after the 2012 season, but failed to convince anyone that he deserved a roster spot, let alone a starting job.
Known for his ability to run with the football more than throw it, Tebow's struggles with passing accuracy were well-documented. In 35 career games, including 16 starts, Tebow completed just 48 percent of his attempts.
How that will translate to hitting the cut-off man or trying to nail a runner stretching a single into a double remains to be seen.
