Tim Tebow is off to a successful start with the St. Lucie Mets since his recent promotion. (Photo: SI.com)
Tebow-mania on upswing since Gators icon promoted
Friday, July 14, 2017 | Scott Carter
Former UF Heisman winner has found batting stroke as member of St. Lucie Mets.
Tebow's chances of playing in the major leagues are slim based solely on baseball skill, but in Tebow's world, his best skill seems to be creating magical moments.
We saw him do it as Florida's quarterback time and time again. We saw it briefly in the NFL with the Broncos. Of course, Tebow's most meaningful work is usually done through his charitable organization, which has created countless memories for sick children and the underprivileged.
Tebow just has a knack of finding ways to make people pay attention regardless of what he is doing. He did it again Thursday night in a baseball game between the St. Lucie Mets and Daytona Tortugas.
Tebow returned recently to the Sunshine State when the New York Mets promoted him from their low-Class A team in Columbia, S.C., to St. Lucie, their affiliate in the Florida State League.
Tebow is batting .327 with three homers and 11 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak since his promotion. In a Thursday doubleheader, Tebow hit a solo walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh of Game 2 to lift St. Lucie to a 5-4 victory. Tebow said it was his first walk-off homer since his junior year of high school 12 years ago. That was the last time Tebow played baseball full-time prior to this season, his first full season as a minor-leaguer.
If you haven't seen the video, watch below:
TIM TEBOW WALK-OFF HOMER IN BOTTOM 7 --->>>VIDEO @Mets #Mets #LGM #NYM pic.twitter.com/mL9XIceGhJ
— Bill Whitehead (@BillWhiteheadFL) July 14, 2017
"It definitely felt good,'' Tebow told the Daytona Beach News-Journal afterward. "I just wanted to try and come through in the end. It's fun to celebrate with all the guys."
The crowd at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie erupted when Tebow's drive to left-center cleared the wall. That kind of fan reaction is rare in the minors. But then again, Tebow isn't your typical minor-leaguer. What about the reaction in the press box which can be heard in the video above? Obviously someone knew they just witnessed another one of Tebow's special moments.
Tebow addressed his improvement at the plate since his promotion this way: "Just working with the coaches and more time playing baseball. A lot of great teammates talking to me about pitches, you know, 'This is what I just saw, this is what's coming.' Just seeing more pitches, have better timing, be through the zone longer. I'm just trying to work at the game and get better every day."
To see more of Tebow's postgame interview, click on the Daytona Beach News-Journal link above.
Tebow's latest heroics have ramped up interest in his recent surge at the plate. The Mets play in Kissimmee next week and the Florida Fire Frogs are already ramping up their marketing efforts to get people into the stands.
The @FireFrogsBB pumped Tim Tebow is coming to town next week ... pic.twitter.com/uvzuKo4OVX
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) July 14, 2017
Florida Volleyball | Jordan Byrd GETS UP for the BLOCK ✋
Thursday, November 13
Florida Men's Basketball | Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh Post Double-Doubles
Thursday, November 13
Florida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Media Availability | Ole Miss
Wednesday, November 12
Florida Women's Basketball | Jacksonville Recap
Wednesday, November 12
