PHILADELPHIA – The Braves have serious interest in signing former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow to a contract if it’s a “low-risk commitment,” a person familiar with the situation said Saturday. And it could happen soon.
Tebow, 29, hasn’t played baseball since his junior year in high school 11 years ago, but the former Florida Gators star is attempting to forge a pro career as an outfielder and held an individual workout Tuesday in Los Angeles that was attended by representatives of 28 of 30 major league teams.
The Braves had two of their top scouts at the event, which lasted over two hours, and were among a reported five teams that talked privately with Tebow afterward. The Braves have repeatedly stated a philosophy of “leave no stone unturned” when pursuing talent.
One report said the Rockies were also among the interested teams, but the Braves are believed to be the favorites to sign him.
Tebow has been doing baseball workouts for more than a year and ramped up the activities in May with intensive workouts at a Scottsdale, Ariz. baseball school operated by former major leaguer Chad Moeller.
The muscular, 255-pound former Heisman Trophy Award winner impressed with his raw power – he hit one long home run during the workout — and above-average speed, though his swing and defensive skills would presumably need plenty of work if he hoped to advance up the minor league chain and someday realize his goal of playing in the majors.
One thing is for certain: Tebow would generate plenty of publicity wherever he went in the minor leagues, particularly in SEC country. Tebow was a veritable superstar for his exploits at Florida, where he was a fiery team leader on the field with a squeaky-clean image off it.
The Braves own their low Single-A affiliate in Rome, Ga., their Double-A team in Pearl, Miss., and their Triple-A team in Gwinnett County in suburban Atlanta, and if Tebow spent time with any of those teams he would surely boost the bottom line financially.
Tebow won the 2007 Heisman Trophy as a sophomore and led Florida to the 2008 national championship. Tebow had a modest NFL career, playing in 35 regular-season games with the Denver Broncos in 2010-2011 and New York Jets in 2012, before being signed by the New England Patriots in 2013 and released two months later without playing a game. He was also signed and released by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015.
He was hired by ESPN as a college-football analyst in December 2013.
