USA TODAY- Tim Tebow is serious about his professional sports rebirth as a baseball player and his representatives said the former NFL quarterback's workout for major league scouts won't be a sideshow.
Tebow has trained for the last several months in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Los Angeles at a sport he hasn't played regularly for more than a decade. Tebow has served an ESPN broadcaster since his three-season NFL career ended with the New York Jets at the conclusion of 2012 season.
"This may sound like a publicity stunt, but nothing could be further from the truth," Brodie Van Wagenen, co-head of CAA Baseball, said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports and other outlets. "I have seen Tim’s workouts and people inside and outside the industry – scouts, executives, players and fans – will be impressed by his talent. As an agent, I have a genuine respect for how hard it is to succeed at the game of baseball and a true admiration for those who possess the talent to play it at the Major League level. Tim's tool set is real."Former major league catcher Chad Moeller has trained Tebow at this baseball school in Scottsdale and said in a statement that Tebow "has the skill set and potential to achieve his goal of playing in the major leagues."
“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. "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."
Tebow will hold a workout where all 30 major league teams will be invited to observe within the next month, according to a person with knowledge of the session who is not authorized to speak publicly.
Tebow hasn’t played baseball on a regular basis since 2004 as a junior in high school, where he hit .ears494 at Nease High in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Some scouts noticed Tebow’s baseball talents more than a decade ago.
Boston Red Sox area scout Tom Kotchman was with the Los Angeles Angels when he attempted to get Tebow to choose baseball over football.
“We wanted to draft him, but he never sent back his information card,” Kotchman told WEEI-AM. “Who knows if it got to him, and if it did we just never got it back. Otherwise we were going to take him.”
Red Sox scout Stephen Hargett told the radio station that Tebow’s decision not play baseball as a senior made it clear football was the focus. Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and two national titles at Florida.
"He had a strong arm and had a lot of power. If he would have been there his senior year he definitely would have had a good chance to be drafted," Hargett, said. "He had leverage to his swing. He had some natural loft. He had some good power. He was a good athlete. He had had enough arm for that position. He was a left-handed hitter with strength and some size."
Tim Tebow is back baby!! I am 1000 percent on board for this move. Tim Tebow is a born winner and it doesn't matter if it's not in the prettiest of fashions. The guy has true grit and perseverance and is built like a brick shit house. Oh, he hasn't played baseball in ELEVEN years? Bring it on! The man will outwork anyone on the field! Ok Ok, lets be honest, there is no chance in hell he sniffs the Majors. For anyone that has played the game of baseball, they will know, this is not a sport you can just pick up and be good at after an eleven year hiatus. It doesn't mean this won't make for a very fun ride, and dammit to hell if I don't buckle up and board the bus! (Little minor league baseball pun)
I will guarantee you that one of the 30 MLB teams will sign Tebow. He will obviously report to a low A ball team who is looking to break even on the season as well as giving their attendance a boost. Hey, it's a smart business decision. I will also guarantee that the little town in Arkansas or Oklahoma or wherever in the hell he ends up will absolutely adore him. If Tebow builds it, they will come. The place will be sold out every night, and for my own selfish reasons I want them to be the scum of the earth with a need for a new stadium and a new attitude. Tebow will make them into an instant winner. He will also work construction on said stadium, with his shirt off. Locals can come and watch while paying a small fee (which goes to the team) because Tim is a true team first kind of guy. I mean, who else repeatedly turns down six figure jobs in order to chase the dream of riding on buses throughout the heartland while making 1200 dollars a month? TIMOTHY RICHARD TEBOW, THAT'S WHO!
I still believe he should transition into a reliever rather than trying to make the leap as a position player. Being that he is a lefty already gives him a leg up on others. He may need some mechanical work but so did another certain raw big league arm:
Tebow has trained for the last several months in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Los Angeles at a sport he hasn't played regularly for more than a decade. Tebow has served an ESPN broadcaster since his three-season NFL career ended with the New York Jets at the conclusion of 2012 season.
"This may sound like a publicity stunt, but nothing could be further from the truth," Brodie Van Wagenen, co-head of CAA Baseball, said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports and other outlets. "I have seen Tim’s workouts and people inside and outside the industry – scouts, executives, players and fans – will be impressed by his talent. As an agent, I have a genuine respect for how hard it is to succeed at the game of baseball and a true admiration for those who possess the talent to play it at the Major League level. Tim's tool set is real."Former major league catcher Chad Moeller has trained Tebow at this baseball school in Scottsdale and said in a statement that Tebow "has the skill set and potential to achieve his goal of playing in the major leagues."
“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. "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."
Tebow will hold a workout where all 30 major league teams will be invited to observe within the next month, according to a person with knowledge of the session who is not authorized to speak publicly.
Tebow hasn’t played baseball on a regular basis since 2004 as a junior in high school, where he hit .ears494 at Nease High in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Some scouts noticed Tebow’s baseball talents more than a decade ago.
Boston Red Sox area scout Tom Kotchman was with the Los Angeles Angels when he attempted to get Tebow to choose baseball over football.
“We wanted to draft him, but he never sent back his information card,” Kotchman told WEEI-AM. “Who knows if it got to him, and if it did we just never got it back. Otherwise we were going to take him.”
Red Sox scout Stephen Hargett told the radio station that Tebow’s decision not play baseball as a senior made it clear football was the focus. Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and two national titles at Florida.
"He had a strong arm and had a lot of power. If he would have been there his senior year he definitely would have had a good chance to be drafted," Hargett, said. "He had leverage to his swing. He had some natural loft. He had some good power. He was a good athlete. He had had enough arm for that position. He was a left-handed hitter with strength and some size."
Tim Tebow is back baby!! I am 1000 percent on board for this move. Tim Tebow is a born winner and it doesn't matter if it's not in the prettiest of fashions. The guy has true grit and perseverance and is built like a brick shit house. Oh, he hasn't played baseball in ELEVEN years? Bring it on! The man will outwork anyone on the field! Ok Ok, lets be honest, there is no chance in hell he sniffs the Majors. For anyone that has played the game of baseball, they will know, this is not a sport you can just pick up and be good at after an eleven year hiatus. It doesn't mean this won't make for a very fun ride, and dammit to hell if I don't buckle up and board the bus! (Little minor league baseball pun)
I will guarantee you that one of the 30 MLB teams will sign Tebow. He will obviously report to a low A ball team who is looking to break even on the season as well as giving their attendance a boost. Hey, it's a smart business decision. I will also guarantee that the little town in Arkansas or Oklahoma or wherever in the hell he ends up will absolutely adore him. If Tebow builds it, they will come. The place will be sold out every night, and for my own selfish reasons I want them to be the scum of the earth with a need for a new stadium and a new attitude. Tebow will make them into an instant winner. He will also work construction on said stadium, with his shirt off. Locals can come and watch while paying a small fee (which goes to the team) because Tim is a true team first kind of guy. I mean, who else repeatedly turns down six figure jobs in order to chase the dream of riding on buses throughout the heartland while making 1200 dollars a month? TIMOTHY RICHARD TEBOW, THAT'S WHO!
I still believe he should transition into a reliever rather than trying to make the leap as a position player. Being that he is a lefty already gives him a leg up on others. He may need some mechanical work but so did another certain raw big league arm: