https://www.usatoday.com/story...ue-at-bat/100147094/

Tim Tebow’s minor league baseball career couldn’t have started in more magical fashion.

In his first at-bat for the Class A Columbia Fireflies, the former Heisman Trophy winner drove a 2-1 pitch from Augusta GreenJackets lefty Domenic Mazza off and over the fence in left field for a two-run home run, sending a capacity crowd at Spirit Communications Park into a disbelieving frenzy.

The shot came in the bottom of the second inning of Tebow’s first game with the New York Mets’ low-A affiliate, and came on the heels of a spring training performance during which he struggled in Grapefruit League exhibitions against major league clubs, getting just four hits in 27 at-bats (a .148 average).

It appears he’ll like lower minor league pitching a little better.

Tebow stopped momentarily at second base before an umpire motioned that it was a home run. He did a giddy-hop and pumped his arms, before completing the trip around the bases.

While Mezza is a far cry from Max Scherzer — the National League Cy Young winner who struck him out on three pitches last month — he’s far from a novice. Mezza, 22, posted a 3.93 ERA in 14 starts in this same South Atlantic League last season.

After fouling off one pitch and deftly laying off a curveball in the dirt, Tebow — with fans clad in his jersey from the University of Florida, the Denver Broncos and even freshly purchased Fireflies Tebow T-shirts — created his first bit of baseball lore.

After fouling off a pitch and deftly laying off a curveball in the dirt, Tebow — with fans clad in his jersey from the University of Florida, the Denver Broncos and even freshly purchased Fireflies Tebow T-shirts — created his first bit of baseball lore.

The rest of the night didn’t go as well; Tebow grounded out and then struck out three times – twice looking - in his final two at-bats against relievers Matt Solter, Sandro Cabrera and Jeff Burke as the Fireflies went on to a 14-7 victory over Augusta.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bigboreshooter,

Good for Tim! I'm glad he is enjoying himself.

I guess if he fails at Single A he can always go back to a community college and play there.

Sorry, not a fan of the guy. Can't quarterback in the NFL, gee I'll try something else and take a spot away from some other kid who might have a chance at their only post educational baseball career by playing Single A only because of his name.

He had his chance and blew it. If he would've moved to a wide receiver he might've had a chance in the NFL.

Just more of the wacky antics of small ball. I guess there's always Little League-oh wait too old for that.

quote:

Originally posted by doc45:
I guess if he fails at Single A he can always go back to a community college and play there.

Sorry, not a fan of the guy. Can't quarterback in the NFL, gee I'll try something else and take a spot away from some other kid who might have a chance at their only post educational baseball career by playing Single A only because of his name.

He had his chance and blew it. If he would've moved to a wide receiver he might've had a chance in the NFL.

Just more of the wacky antics of small ball. I guess there's always Little League-oh wait too old for that.

Kinda like Jordan playing baseball.

From what I was told, single-A is for folks w potential, triple AAA is for never wills and rehab

I am not a Tebow fan either but I don't see why the guy doesn't deserve a shot like anybody else. It's not like he's relying only on a famous family legacy name to get his job. No one ever heard of the Tebow's before him, he made his own name because he was good at sports. And sports is unlike nearly any other business, a famous name won't help you very long in getting a job. Soorts doesn't work that way anyway, if your not good, you will get owned on the sports field in a hurry. No one is paying for a $150 ticket to see Michael Jordan's kid play for the Chicago Bulls.

I knew the numbers were huge but I did not know the specifics so I looked it up. There are 244 minor league baseball teams, about 6,000 players. I don't think Tebow will responsible for killing some kids dream to play baseball by taking up their place. If he is willing to ride the bus and be a Columbia Firefly he deserves a shot like anyone else. If he continues to bat .194 like he did last fall he will be out of the sport soon enough.

Makes for good trivia and nostalgia if you were the pitcher who served up the public relations bonus for baseball. Good on TT

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
From what I was told, single-A is for folks w potential, triple AAA is for never wills and rehab

I think you got that backwards.

As for Tim, good for him and I wish him luck ~ always liked him and thought he was discriminated against a bit for no real good reason.

So Jesus Christ can hit a curve ball.
Up yer butt, Jobu.

Yup, exactly like Jordan.

Having gone to a few of Tebow's Broncos games, thanks to the graces of a few friends with tickets, I was not overly impressed with his quarterback skills. He had a large following here in the Denver area, he seems like a wonderful role model for young men on how to live a good life and not get in trouble like so many other pro athletes. That's not a bad legacy to have no matter how long or short a career lasts.

He probably could've had a longer career in football if he'd pursued another offensive position-something talked about in the football circles. I don't fault him from walking away when it didn't work out the way he hoped. They guy's not going to starve, he'll make a fine living, I'm just not convinced he's there for any reason other than due to his name, compared to any other unknown player of equal/superior talent. It'll put butts in the seats and that's all sports really comes down to-regardless of the level.

Owners don't have the teams for charity, they're looking to make money, having Tim Tebow on any team will bring out the spectators.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
From what I was told, single-A is for folks w potential, triple AAA is for never wills and rehab

You are partially correct. A ball is for prospects and not many spend a lot of time in A ball. If you are good you move up and if you don't do well in A ball you are gone pretty quick.

AAA ball is where a lot of guys get parked and many never make the show or bounce up briefly and get sent back down. Guys can spend years in AAA trying to get over that last hump. They are good players and you are correct in the sense that they provide a test for future stars that are passing through while rising to the bigs. They also provide a venue for big league guys to dust the rust after an injury.

This is no knock on AAA level players, they are still among the best 1000 to 1500 baseball players on the planet. Given that millions of kids play youth ball every year while dreaming of playing professionally some day, that is no small accomplishment.

Not a Tebow fan and most certainly not a UF fan and i'm not overly religious but I like seeing him stay in the spotlight because I know it pisses people off. He was a good college quarterback, he was a winner. People hated him because of his religious beliefs. I don't remember him stealing crab legs (FSU fan) or beating the shit out of his girlfriend, or even getting busted snorting coke at a strip club, so I suppose the guy must be an asshole and we should hate him because of his constitution.

Just the same as Chick Fil A, and I patronize the shit out of that place, but in their case, they make a mean fucking sandwich.

quote:

Originally posted by doc45:....Can't quarterback in the NFL, ....

Interesting comment considering the guy took Denver to the playoffs.

Not that I think Tebow was a Hall of Famer, but, there is a long list of "NFL QB's" that never got that far, with far better teams around them.

I also found it funny that while everyone bashed Tebow, they are praising "Johnny Football"....

Didn't he do something similar in his first game out last year?

Not a huge fan, and my wife can not STAND his voice, but regardless that's a cool way to start of the season!

Wow! Where's all this hate in this thread coming from?

I wish all the best to Mr. Tebow, hope he does VERY well, and wish other pro athletes would take a lesson from him on how to be a role model.

Sap,

Spot on. I always get a shooting pain from reading or hearing those who seem to love to bash the kid for a variety of extremely lame reasons.

I wish him the best.

I admire Tim Tebow. I'll give the same nod to anyone who would build a hospital to help underprivileged children in some third world party like he did.

I wish him nothing but the best.


Glad to hear he nailed it.

quote:

Originally posted by doc45:
he seems like a wonderful role model for young men on how to live a good life and not get in trouble like so many other pro athletes. That's not a bad legacy to have no matter how long or short a career lasts.

I would hope this shows I don't hate Tim Tebow, not by a long shot. I don't think he's deserving of all the accolades directed at his ATHLETIC skills. As a young man I do think, again, he's a wonderful role model especially when we see how many other pro athletes behave. I don't put any man on a pedestal but I do respect the kind of person he appears to be.

I don't know anything about Dominic Mazza, you know the pitcher that gave up the first homer, 7 years Tebow's junior, be curious if he'll ever be more than a footnote or if he has a real future.

Carry on, sorry if I offended anyone, not my intention at all.

quote:

Originally posted by doc45:
I don't know anything about Dominic Mazza, you know the pitcher that gave up the first homer, 7 years Tebow's junior, be curious if he'll ever be more than a footnote or if he has a real future.

He was drafted in the 22nd round out of UC Santa Barbara. Had a seemingly decent year last year in A ball but I don't know if the Sally League generally favors pitchers or hitters. He doesn't have even a good fastball (86-88 mph) and relies on control. But he's a lefty so who knows. He's likely out of the game in a few years. Tebow probably is too.