Friday Farm Report: Tebow Decision Looming? In Hartford This Weekend
Tim Tebow has been a fan attraction in the Double-A Eastern League this season, but a decision is seemingly be lurking for the two-time Heisman Trophy winner, who spent three seasons in the NFL, the first two with the Broncos.
Having not appearedin an NFL game since 2012 and last seen at an NFL training camp in 2015, Tebow has been committed to pursuing a career in baseball. The results, however, have not been promising.
Tebow, who had not played baseball since his junior year in high school before signing with the Mets’ organization in September of 2016, will be playing the Rockies’ Double-A Hartford affiliate this weekend. It is Binghamton’s second trip this season to Hartford. The Yard Goats sold out all three games last month, when Tebow was a combined 2-for-7, starting two games and coming off the bench in a third.
Tebow is hitting .238 in 55 games with the Rumble Ponies. He is second in the Eastern League with 75 strikeouts in 172 at-bats.
Steve Spurrier, who will coach the Orlando entry in the Alliance of American Football, which begins play next spring, has approached Tebow about playing quarterback. For now, Tebow said he is going to continue to pursue his baseball dream.
He has, however, shown signs of admitting baseball is not a fit.
“I think that it’s something I’ll have to figure out, pray about it, and see where my heart’s at with everything,” he told USA Today. “It’s hard to necessarily put a timetable on a dream or ambitions or heart, so I think it’s just looking at it, praying about it and figuring out what’s best.”
Tebow, a first-round draft of the Broncos in 2010, did take over at quarterback for the Broncos after the team started the 2011 season 1-4, and led them to a first-round playoff win. He, however, never started an NFL game after that post-season, becoming the only quarterback younger than 30 to quarterback a playoff victory and never appear in another regular-season game.
In Thursday’s Games
AAA Albuquerque (32-34) lost 7-6 in 10 innings to Memphis, which scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. Craig Schlitter (0-0, 0.00), in his first appearances since being promoted from Double-A, was charged with the loss. He gave up a run that was unearned because it was scored by the runner who opened the 10th on second base. Schiltter did retire two batters, but also gave up two singles to load the bases and then issued a walk. David Holman (5.52) started, and allowed three runs on two hits and two walks, striking out two in 5 1/3 innings. Jordan Patterson (.268) hit two home runs, giving him 13 for the season, with four RBI. He also singled. Josh Fuentes (.328) also had three hits in four at-bats, scoring twice and driving in a third run.
AA Hartford (30-35) lost 11-10 to Erie, which scored three runs in a ninth-inning rally that began with two outs and nobody on base. Hartford led 10-3 after six innings thanks to a five-run sixth in which Ryan Metzler (.258) hit a two-run home run, and Brendan Rodgers (.282) hit a three-run home run, his 14th. Ryan Castellani (4.96) allowed three runs on three hits and three walks, striking out four. Sean Nolin (1-2, 10.45) suffered the losses, loading the bases in the ninth with a single and two walks before Scott Griggs (2.59) came on and gave up a three-run double to Chad Sedio.
High A Lancaster (31-36) lost 6-0 at Inland Empire, and was officially eliminated from the South Division battle for the first-half playoff spot. David Hill (1-2, 4.91) allowed six runs on six hits and three walks, striking out four in 4 2/3 innings. Colton Welker (.305) had two of Lancaster's six singles.
Low A Asheville (26-40) lost 2-1 at Charleston. Sean Bouchard (.269) had Asheville's only hit with a ground ball in the seventh inning that Charleston third baseman Dermis Garcia tried to backhand. Bouchard also walked. Ryan Vilade (.232) reached on an error in the second, advancing to third on two passed balls, and scored Asheville's only run on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Spanberger (.313). Lucas Gilbreath (4-4, 5.92) started and suffered the loss, allowing two runs, on earned, on five hits, striking out seven in six innings.