OT: Tigers - and many other teams - will scout Tebow next week
From a forum post last week, we know that Tim Tebow is attempting to take his talents to baseball. I wasn't aware that baseball was taking this seriously.
About 20 teams are expected to be on hand for his private workout next week, our beloved Tigers among them. Doesn't appear to be serious interest, just a "was athlete; am willing to look" diligence.
For what it's worth, FTW Sports doesn't have Detroit on their "top 6 teams where he could land" list, which I'm convinced are both Florida teams and then 4 random teams they picked out of a hat.
Freep link: http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2016/08/24/tim-tebow-baseball-detroit-tigers/89256382/
FTW link: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/tim-tebow-mlb-teams-workout-signing-minor-leagues
August 24th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^
I don't get his reluctance to change positions to stay in the league. I actually admired his stance, but now his comical attention grab has me scratching my head. From what I read, the Angels "nearly" drafted him out of high school. I think his QB skills are what got that bit of attention.
August 24th, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^
Obligatory batting practice session while shirtless to further woo scouts.
August 24th, 2016 at 1:32 PM ^
Ask Michael Jordan.
August 24th, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^
There is no way Tebow is going to even hit a AAA cureveball. It just isn't happening. He would be a good gate attraction for a lower level team, though.
August 24th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 1:34 PM ^
Tebow will get signed by somebody regardless of how good he is simply cause he'll put fanny's in the seats in some obscure minor league ballpark somewhere. He'll be playing single A ball for the Montgomery Biscuits next year at this time which means they can put off the "wear your funniest socks to the ballpark for .50 hot dogs night" away for a year.
August 24th, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
It'll be a low risk signing. A team out of the playoff hunt might sell some seats if they can call him up to the major league team in September. I don't know if this season is realistic, but that's how they could recoup his salary. I've gone to a lot of minor league ballparks. They usually draw quite well and the seats are very cheap. Tebow would sell them out at first, but I doubt they care.
I'll be impressed if he can hit AA pitching. I think the odds are against that.
August 24th, 2016 at 4:02 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^
farm team out there that could use the extra revenue, and giving up a longshot single A roster spot is just giving up a longshot for some real cash today. Every bit helps an organization.
The majors? No.
August 24th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
Will Jamar Adams be participating in the scouting? He would seem to have been graded highly in his Tebow scouting abilities based on the 2008 Capital One Bowl.
August 24th, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^
Wouldn't be surprised if some small market team like the Rays or the Marlins took a chance on him. I'm sure he'd still have to go through the minor league ranks before ever sniffing the big leagues, but that guy will put butts in seats, regardless of how good he actually is at baseball.
There is some team out there looking for some kind of attention spark that would be willing to take a chance on him, because people will actually start talking about that team for a change. It gives them attention.
August 24th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 2:39 PM ^
if a team takes a chance on him and pays him a few hundred grand, why the hell wouldn't tebow do this? unless he has more lucrative irons in the fire, which i doubt.
and, if he does get a chance in the minors next year, it has reality show written all over it, meaning many more $$.
August 24th, 2016 at 4:05 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^
most get some sort of signing bonus
August 24th, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 1:53 PM ^
Wasn't he scouted in high school by the Angels, Red Sox and perhaps a couple other teams? I remember hearing that somewhere but I could be wrong. In any case, as much as this seems like the standard "look at me and what I am doing over here" behavior from Tim Tebow, it will be interesting to see if indeed he can pick baseball up where he left it long ago and get himself a contract, even if for 15 minutes.
August 24th, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^
Tebow was scouted by the Red Sox, and their head scout at the time said that if Tebow had turned in his draft card, the Sox would have picked him. Pretty sure Tebow hit close to .500 as a junior in Florida HS ball (decent competition level), and in his autobiography Tebow said that he thought he was a better baseball player and that his family tried to get him to stick to it.
That's why 20 or so teams are sending scouts, Tebow at one point had baseball talent and is an elite athlete. He is likely not going to go anywhere, but Tebow playing baseball makes a lot more sense then when jordan tried it (unless the rumors are true).
August 24th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
A couple of hours of a scout's time? If not Tebow, the scout would be looking at some high school player who has a vanishingly small chance of making it to the show.
August 24th, 2016 at 2:57 PM ^
Thoughts and prayers.
August 24th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^
This is a glorified PR stunt. You can get a Tebow autographed baseball bat for $175 and an autographed ball for $125. http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/08/15/tim-tebow-selling-autographed-bats-baseballs
Wouldn't Tebow make more money as an ESPN mouthpiece rather than playing in the minors? Or could he do both?
August 24th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^
if he could get a baseball to knuckle the way he could a football, he'd be unhittable!
August 24th, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
I don't think anyone expects him to ever make it to the majors. But, the guy is marketable. Put him down in the minors maybe AA at the highest and guess what. People will want to see him as a novelty so you sell tickets and heck put his name on some jerseys and they will sell like hot cakes. Just a gimmick for some team to make some money.
August 24th, 2016 at 5:24 PM ^
I watched him over the weekend on the sec show he's on and I can tell you broadcasting isn't in his future either. I suppose with enough time and work he can get it done.
C'mon Whitecaps make this happen.
August 24th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
If Tebow dedicated himself full time to broadcasting in the same way he has dedicated himself to making it in sports, I'm sure he would be just fine and stick around for a while. But like many former athletes, it sounds like he is having a hard time letting go of his identity as an athlete.