Tim Tebow’s much-anticipated baseball workout drew mixed reviews.
Tebow, who’s attempting to transition from NFL quarterback to Major League Baseball outfielder at age 29, showcased his skills for MLB scouts Tuesday in Los Angeles. Based on various reports, it sounds like Tebow didn’t embarrass himself, though it also sounds like he didn’t wow too many people, either.
The most impressive aspect of Tebow’s workout, according to many in attendance, was the raw power he displayed during batting practice. A left-handed hitter, Tebow hit eight or nine balls over the fence at USC’s Dedeaux Field — depending on who you ask — and that caught some scouts’ attention.
Tebow’s offensive prowess apparently wasn’t quite as impressive when he faced live pitching, though. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner faced former major leaguers David Aardsma and Chad Smith, and he left a lot to be desired.
According to USA TODAY Sports, Tebow — listed at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds by his agents —Â was clocked in a range of 6.65 to 6.82 seconds in the 60-yard dash. That reportedly ranges from “average” to “above average” on the major league scale.
Tebow probably needs to improve his defense in the coming weeks and months.
No one really knew what to expect going into Tuesday’s workout, which was attended by scouts from 28 major league organizations, according to CBS Sports. So all things considered, it’s actually rather impressive he was able to turn a few heads with his performance, even if his shortcomings were apparent to those who know baseball.
“I thought he was OK. Better than I expected, to be honest,” one anonymous major league scout told USA TODAY Sports. “For not having played as long as he had, I thought he did OK.
“That’s a big dude, for as fast as he can run. The power was impressive, but I wish he could have translated it maybe a little better (against live pitching).”
In fact, a few teams might even be interested in rolling the dice on the Tebow experiment.
If nothing else, the trademark positive attitude clearly translates across all sports for Tebow.
