Tim Tebow is really committed to this baseball thing … just as soon as he gets done with being a college football analyst.
The New York Mets on Thursday signed the former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback to a minor league contract, just over a week after Tebow tried out for Major League Baseball teams in California.
The news came as a bit of a surprise, as Tebow wasn’t exactly heralded as a baseball prospect, and his scouting report — while not terrible — certainly doesn’t make you think the 29-year-old will be fast-tracked to the bigs.
Surely, however, Tebow is going to bust his butt and not let anything get in the way of accomplishing whatever baseball goals he has, right?
To quote an ESPN colleague of his, not so fast.
While we’re not going to sit here and say Tebow won’t work hard when he’s on the baseball field, it’s interesting to note that he’ll finish his commitment to ESPN and the SEC Network for the rest of the football season, even if that means missing time with the Mets.
Tebow’s baseball game needs a lot of work, which is why the Mets are sending him to the instructional league, but he’s not going to be there every day.
“Tim is fully committed to his role at SEC Network and ESPN this fall,” ESPN senior vice president of event and studio production Stephanie Druley said in a statement, per The Big Lead. “We have always been supportive of Tim’s athletic pursuits. His new schedule will allow him to continue as a college football analyst on SEC Nation this fall.”
Contracts are contracts, but those who weren’t taking Tebow’s baseball quest seriously to begin with certainly won’t be impressed by this development.
Thumbnail photo via Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports Images
