Mets list Tebow (ankle) as day-to-day

Whereas he previously made a living eluding 300-pound tacklers, New York Mets spring training invitee and former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was brought down by a sprinkler head and suffered a sprained left ankle as a result.

The 30-year-old outfielder was injured when he caught his foot on a sprinkler head in the outfield at the Mets’ complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The injury occurred on Monday or Tuesday of last week, according to the former Heisman Trophy winner. He’s listed as ‘day to day.’ 

‘I’m trying to be smart about it and keep (the ankle) taped,’ Tebow told reporters after Sunday’s workout. 

Tebow, in camp as a non-roster player as he continues the transition from NFL quarterback to aspiring Major League Baseball prospect, is being limited to taking batting practice with the ankle taped. He hopes to resume full workouts in the coming days.

Tebow was slated to have an X-ray on Sunday. 

If there is no structural damage, he could suit up this week as a designated hitter, according to the New York Post.  

He may not be considered a major prospect, but Mets general manager Sandy Alderson recently gave a vote of confidence to Tebow, who played at Single-A last season.

‘I think he will play in the major leagues,’ Alderson said of Tebow. ‘That’s my guess. That’s my hope and to some extent now after a year and a half, a modest expectation.

‘The notion he should’ve been excluded from the game because he’s not coming through the traditional sources is crazy,’ Alderson continued. ‘This is entertainment too. He quietly entertains us.’ 

Tim Tebow (15) smiles as he warms up on the field before the start of the second game of a double header MiLB minor league baseball game between the Palm Beach Cardinals and the St. Lucie Mets at the First Data Field in Port St Lucie, Florida on June 28, 2017

Tebow hit just .226 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs in 126 games split between Single-A Columbia and St. Lucie last season.

The good news was that he helped minor league baseball attendance rise its highest levels since 1994, when NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan played Double-A baseball during his year-long sabbatical from basketball.

‘I’m happy he’s here,’ Alderson said. ‘I think he’s great for the team and great for baseball and was phenomenal for minor league baseball last year.

Alderson is held in high regard in baseball circles after first becoming general manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1981. Not only did he acquire and develop Rookie of the Year winners Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Walt Weiss, but the A’s went on to win a World Series in 1989. Alderson was also named Baseball America’s ‘Executive of the Year’ in 2015.

Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida and former quarterback with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets, had last played competitive baseball in high school before signing with the Mets in September 2016 before participating in the Arizona Fall League.

Sandy Alderson first became a general manager with the Oakland Athletics in 1981, helping to acquire and develop three consecutive American League Rookie of the Year winners – Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Walt Weiss – en route to a World Series title in 1989. He was named Baseball America’s Executive of the Year in 2015 as a member of the Mets 

After a stellar career at Florida, Tebow became a first-round selection in the NFL Draft, getting selected with the 25th overall pick by the Denver Broncos in 2010

He was previously an All-State baseball player at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida. 

‘He’s been super for us the first year-plus,’ Alderson said. ‘He’s made progress on the field and he’s dedicated himself to improving. He has spent a lot of time in the offseason working with hitting coaches.’

Tebow is not on the Mets’ 40-man roster, but the expectation is he will begin the season with Double-A Binghamton.

During his first press conference of spring training, Tebow responded to Alderson’s statement about him playing in the big leagues at some point.

‘My goal isn’t about what’s going to happen one day,’ Tebow said Sunday. ‘My goal is to focus on this day – our outfield work, my training session, getting to know all our new coaches. I’m working as hard as I can.

‘One of the important things about being an athlete is being able to lock in and have tunnel vision, because I can’t worry about if one day I’m going to play in the bigs or not. I got into this because I love it, I’m passionate about it, and for me it’s about being able to lock in and have tunnel vision regardless of what team I’m on or where they decide to put me.’

Tim Tebow won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy while at Florida 

Tebow has maintained his role as college football analyst for SEC Network.

Given his unimpressive statistics in Single-A, and the fact that he’s over 30, Tebow is not considered a tremendous prospect. However, there is a long history of baseball teams promoting newsworthy players after rosters expand in September. 

In 1997, for instance, the Cincinnati Reds called up Pete Rose Jr. – the son of franchise hero, baseball’s all-time hit leader, and disgraced former manager Pete Rose. The following year the Reds promoted Stephen Larkin, the younger brother of All-Star shortstop Barry Larkin. 

And if nothing else, Tebow can draw a crowd.  

In 2017 – his first full summer of minor league baseball – Tebow helped two New York Mets Single-A affiliates record new records in ticket sales. 

First, the Columbia Fireflies saw a 21 percent increase in ticket sales, which translates to an additional 54,000 fans over the previous season, according to ESPN. Then, after being promoted to the Florida State League on June 28, Tebow’s presence pushed the St. Lucie Mets’ attendance up by 35,803 fans, a 37 percent improvement from last year.

And when Tebow was on the road, opposing home teams saw an a increase of 2,591 more fans a game than they averaged against other foes, according to ESPN.

Despite making only $10,000 for the year, Tebow was worth nearly $1.6 million in additional ticket, parking, and concession sales, according to an early-season valuation by Baseball America

Jordan did have the advantage of playing in larger stadiums and at a higher level of the minors than Tebow.

The Chicago Bulls legend pushed the Birmingham Barons’ attendance to 467,686 fans in 1994, according to ESPN. In fact, the 6,884 fans per game the Barons drew that season remains a franchise and Southern League record.

For Tebow, the sales spike made him one of the best values in baseball. Despite making only $10,000 for the year, Tebow was worth nearly $1.6 million in additional ticket, parking, and concession sales, according to an early-season valuation by Baseball America. 

Tebow was once a first-round pick in the NFL Draft back, getting selected with the 25th overall pick by the Denver Broncos in 2010.

He even had a successful season under center in 2011, going 7-4 and winning a playoff game against Pittsburgh that season.

However, accuracy issues limited his potential as a quarterback and he ultimately failed to win the starting job with the New York Jets in 2012. Tebow went on to have brief stints with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, but never officially played for either team in a regular season game.

The Columbia Fireflies saw a 21 percent increase in ticket sales in 2017, which translates to an additional 54,000 fans over the previous season, according to ESPN