Atlanta Braves Have “Definite Interest” In Signing Tim Tebow On A Minor League Contract

Braves Could Sign Tebow

Tebow-Mania in Atlanta?!?  Well, it’s possible this may be coming to a town near you.  ESPN’s Pedro Gomez is reporting that the Atlanta Braves have “definite interest” in signing Tim Tebow.

The football player turned baseball player had a tryout in front of many MLB scouts last Tuesday in Los Angeles — almost every MLB team had a representative there — and now it could be down to five teams.  The workout was at Dedeaux Field, the campus of USC.  The Chicago Cubs and the Oakland A’s were the only teams that did not attend.

Gomez said his source told him that the Braves are one of five teams that spoke one-on-one with Tebow after his workout.

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The 29-year-old hasn’t played organized baseball since his junior year in high school in 2005.  During that year, he batted .494 with four homers and 30 RBI while earning All-State honors.

Tebow played just two years of high school baseball from 2004 to 2005 at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  He didn’t play his senior years so that he could enroll early at the University of Florida.

During the workout last week, the former Heisman Trophy winner showed above-average speed and a decent arm from the outfield.  Scouts were saying that he struggled to make consistent contact during batting practice.   If you saw some of the clips floating around social media, you probably saw this.

He did manage to hit one home run during the workout.  It also looked as though he struggled with off-speed pitches compared to straight fastballs.

At this point though, can we really judge off one workout?

Tebow has showed leadership, the do anything and everything attitude to win, he’ll train like you’ve never seen anyone before and plus all of that, he’ll help sell tickets.

Sure no one wants to see Tebow go out after signing a contract and lay an egg.  He’ll have to show more improvements if he’d like to compete at any level.  Since the timing of this happened right at the end of the season, no one will see him on the field until 2017.  Coaches, managers and players have months to work with Tebow and help him get into baseball shape.

I think this is a win-win situation for the Atlanta Braves.  Selling minor league tickets is never a bad thing and I don’t see him being as big of a distraction as many believed he was on the football field.

The other thing is folks are saying it’s bad for baseball or a shot in the leg to people who have trained their entire lives to get to a certain point.  People will say things and the best part about Tebow is he never listens.  I think it’s great for the game of baseball and I’m in favor of his efforts.  The 6’3″ 245 pounder is a beast and one heck of an athlete.

The next step would be cost.  No figures have come out on what he’s looking for.  Tebow has already turned down a few offers to play in the Independent Atlantic League.

Let’s go Braves, why not give the guy a chance!