Mets invite Tim Tebow to spring training again
Tim Tebow jogs up the first baseline at spring training baseball practice in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Feb. 16, 2019. (AP file)
NEW YORK - Tim Tebow will be at spring training with the New York Mets for the fourth straight year.
The Mets said Thursday the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will report to major league training camp next month in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The 32-year-old outfielder hit .163 in 77 games last season at Triple-A Syracuse in his second straight injury-shortened season. He did not play after July 21 because he cut his left hand while fielding a ball in the outfield.
Tim Tebow hits a solo home run during his first instructional league baseball game for the New York Mets against the St. Louis Cardinals instructional club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Sept. 28, 2016. (AP file)
Tebow hit .273 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 36 RBIs in 84 games for Double-A Binghamton in 2018, when his season ended July 18 because of a broken bone in his right hand.
After a three-year stint at quarterback in the NFL, he joined the Mets organization in late 2016. He hit .148 (4 for 27) with no extra-base hits and eight strikeouts during spring training in 2017; .056 (1 for 18) in 2018 and .267 (4 for 15) with no extra-base hits last year.
New York also agreed to minor league contracts with right-handers Pedro Payano, Francisco Ríos and Adonis Uceta; catcher David Rodríguez; infielder Jake Hager; and outfielders Ryan Cordell and Johneshwy Fargas. All seven will report to major league spring training.
Tebow was among eight internal invites to big league camp, a group that also includes 24-year-old left-hander David Peterson, the 20th overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft.