Tebow will eventually reach major leagues, says Mets GM

New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Sunday he believes Tim Tebow, a former NFL quarterback and current outfield prospect in the organization, will eventually reach the major leagues.

The 30-year-old Tebow arrived at the Mets' spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Sunday for his first major league camp. He hit .226 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs in 126 games split between Class A Columbia and St. Lucie last season.

"I think he will play in the major leagues. That's my guess. That's my hope and to some extent now after a year and a half, a modest expectation," Alderson said of Tebow. "I'm happy he's here. I think he's great for the team and great for baseball and was phenomenal for minor league baseball last year.

"The notion he should've been excluded from the game because he's not coming through the traditional sources is crazy. This is entertainment too. He quietly entertains us."

Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida and former quarterback with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets, had last played competitive baseball in high school before signing with the Mets in September 2016 and then participating in the Arizona Fall League.

"He's been super for us the first year-plus," Alderson said. "He's made progress on the field and he's dedicated himself to improving. He has spent a lot of time in the offseason working with hitting coaches."

Tebow is not on the Mets' 40-man roster, but the expectation is he will begin the season with Double-A Binghamton.

During his press conference, Tebow responded to Alderson's statement about him playing in the big leagues at some point.

"My goal isn't about what's going to happen one day," Tebow said Sunday. "My goal is to focus on this day—our outfield work, my training session, getting to know all our new coaches. I'm working as hard as I can.

"One of the important things about being an athlete is being able to lock in and have tunnel vision, because I can't worry about if one day I'm going to play in the bigs or not. I got into this because I love it, I'm passionate about it, and for me it's about being able to lock in and have tunnel vision regardless of what team I'm on or where they decide to put me."

Tebow has maintained his role as college football analyst for SEC Network. —Reuters