Mets Invite Pair of Former Gators to Camp; Wonder Who?

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Former Gators first baseman Pete Alonso is considered one of the top prospects in the New York Mets organization. Former UF quarterback Tim Tebow is the most famous minor leaguer in the organization.

The Mets announced Friday that Alonso and Tebow are among nine players invited to big league spring training when camp opens next month. Neither move is really a surprise.

Alonso belted 18 home runs and posted a .524 slugging percentage over two levels last year in his first full professional season. Alonso started at Class-A St. Lucie and was promoted to Double-A Binghamton by season's end. Even with the recent signing of five-time All-Star Adrian Gonzalez, Alonso remains a valued prospect.

As for the Mets' other spring invitees? Here's a look at Peter Alonso, who made @MLBPipeline's list of the game's top 10 first base prospects: https://t.co/3AydhaFyJy pic.twitter.com/JsD1M4iM26
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) January 19, 2018

As for the 30-year-old Tebow, there's no doubt if he had any eligibility remaining, his former offensive coordinator with the Gators, Dan Mullen, would hand him the starting job in his first season as UF's head coach. Instead, Tebow gets another opportunity to test his skills on the diamond against big leaguers early in spring training.

Tebow began to pursue a professional baseball career in the Arizona Fall League in 2016. He played 126 games for Class-A Columbia and Class-A St. Lucie in his first full season in professional baseball last year, showing off his usual flare for the dramatic.

Tebow homered in his first at-bat for Columbia, and ended the year hitting .226 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs overall. In nine spring training games last year, Tebow went 4-for-27 with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Tebow recently finished another season as a college football analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network.

It will be interesting to see where the Mets send Tebow after Round 2 big league camp. Regardless, you can bet the crowds will flock to the ballpark once again to catch a glimpse of Tebow taking his swings at his Major League dream.

@j_senneker pic.twitter.com/RugDH3QbtL
— Shamus Westra (@shamusbcw) January 19, 2018

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Mets Invite Pair of Former Gators to Camp; Wonder Who?

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