The sports fan in me says there's no way. Tim Tebow hasn't played baseball since high school, and that was 11 years ago. The guy is a very impressive physical/athletic specimen, but the skill and timing required to hit a ball coming at you at 97 miles per hour is not something you can just put aside for more than a decade and then pick up again because you're big and strong.
That's what the sports fan in me says. I very much appreciate Tebow's commitment to his faith and his willingness to speak of it despite the mockery of the prevailing culture. That made him a positive asset to the NFL during his brief career there. I somewhat lament that Christian football fans can't get past the idea that Tebow is some sort of superstar who's just being blackballed because of his faith. The NFL is not exactly a Christian institution - not when it turns the entire crowd at the Super Bowl into a gay love rainbow - but if you can play quarterback well, some team is going to want you.
Tebow was a marginal pro talent who did a few things well, and had one shining moment in the playoffs for the Broncos, but overall was not good enough to stick in the league. That's just an objective assessment of his talent. People of faith should be able to deal with that while still recognizing the first-rate quality of Tebow's personal character.
So can a guy who's about to turn 29 suddenly change sports and succeed at baseball? Tebow clearly has no intention of writing off the possibility without trying:
For almost the past year, Tebow has been training in Arizona and Los Angeles to hone his hitting and fielding skills in a sport he has not played on a full-time basis since 2005.
Tebow was an All-State baseball player in Florida that year and hit .494 as a junior, helping Nease High School reach the final four of the Florida state playoffs.
"Obviously we support Tim in his pursuit of a baseball career, as we have in all his ventures," said Sexton, Tebow's football agent, who is now working with CAA baseball agent Brodie Van Wagenen.
"Tim's athletic ability, his work ethic, his leadership and his competitiveness were evident in football and will show in baseball. Knowing Tim's passion and desire, we won't be surprised by anything he accomplishes."
Tebow -- who turns 29 on Sunday -- has notified his current employer, ESPN, of his desire to chase a baseball career, but he will continue to fulfill his broadcast obligations to the network.
Former MLB catcher Chad Moeller said in a statement, through Tebow's agent, "I am beyond impressed with Tim's athleticism and swing, and it goes without saying that he has shown a high level of discipline and strong work ethic. I see bat speed and power and real baseball talent. I truly believe Tim has the skill set and potential to achieve his goal of playing in the Major Leagues, and based on what I have seen over the past two months, it could happen relatively quickly."
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Like I said, the sports fan in me says no way. So having said that, I will talk about it from a faith perspective. God often calls people to do highly unlikely things that they can only achieve by trusting Him and following His instructions. Everything here seems to argue against Tebow's success. He's too old, for one thing. To start at some level of the minor leagues at 29 and think any team would view you as a real prospect goes against all established thinking in baseball about player development. And when the best pitching talent you've ever faced was at the high school level, and more than a decade ago, even the opposition in the low minor leagues would probably be a shock to Tebow's system.
But: If God has told Tebow to do this because He intends to use Tebow in baseball, the God will also give Tebow the anointing that will allow him to succeed. I've seen many people throughout my life who were called to do things that seemed impossible given the people's background or their apparent skills. And yet they trusted, followed God's lead, and succeeded.
There's no denying Tebow has been blessed with exceptional athletic skill. If he plays the outfield, he would have a strong throwing arm and good range. He would probably be a fast baserunner, although baserunning is as much instinct and understanding of situations as it is speed. But the real challenge, of course, would be hitting. For all of Chad Moeller's testimony that Tebow displays astonishing bad speed, he's got to show that he can handle real pitching - not just a pitching machine or a batting practice pitcher. Major League scouts, assuming any deem to attend Tebow's workout, should be able to recognize the instincts or lack thereof that would indicate whether Tebow really has a shot at success.
One thing I would tell Tim Tebow is not to listen to anyone who says this is a pipe dream and he should just give it up. No way. If he wants to try this, he should try it.
But ultimately that will be up to God. I have no idea if God is calling Tebow to do this, but if He is, it is not simply to humiliate him with failure. There's some purpose for it. And if Tebow succeeds against all odds, there really won't be any mystery as to how he did it.
The sports fan in me says there's no way. Tim Tebow hasn't played baseball since high school, and that was 11 years ago. The guy is a very impressive physical/athletic specimen, but the skill and timing required to hit a ball coming at you at 97 miles per hour is not something you can just put aside for more than a decade and then pick up again because you're big and strong.
That's what the sports fan in me says. I very much appreciate Tebow's commitment to his faith and his willingness to speak of it despite the mockery of the prevailing culture. That made him a positive asset to the NFL during his brief career there. I somewhat lament that Christian football fans can't get past the idea that Tebow is some sort of superstar who's just being blackballed because of his faith. The NFL is not exactly a Christian institution - not when it turns the entire crowd at the Super Bowl into a gay love rainbow - but if you can play quarterback well, some team is going to want you.
