PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — In his second at-bat, in the fourth inning, the count went to 0-2 and then 1-2 before he grounded into a 4-6-3 double play with the bases loaded, plating the tying run.
His adoring fans gave Mets designated hitter Tim Tebow a standing ovation, during which SNY color analyst Ron Darling noted, “It’s the first standing ovation I’ve ever seen for knocking into a double play.’’
You see, it really doesn’t matter whether Tebow can play baseball or he can’t. He’s a terrific role model. He spoke to the media after his pretty bad performance in his first major league spring training game. He took it all in stride and even ended his 10-plus minutes at the podium with “God bless you.’’
As the designated hitter for the Mets in an 8-7 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon, he went 0 for 3, whiffed twice on called third strikes, hit into the double play, was hit with a pitch by fellow former Florida Gator Brian Johnson, and got doubled off first base. Before his first at-bat against Rick Porcello, Tebow wandered over to the Red Sox’ on-deck circle so he could get a good look at the Sox righthander, and manager Terry Collins had to usher him back into Mets territory.
“I just thought since I was lefthanded I could wander wherever I wanted, but I was told I can’t do that,’’ Tebow said.
To his fans, it really didn’t matter. The fact he was there, live, in the flesh, was enough.
Tebow, who was in Patriots camp in 2013 before being cut, won the Heisman Trophy during a brilliant football career at Florida. His time since has not yielded much reward, but Tebow has persevered, trying his hand at baseball, which isn’t going very well.
The double play grounder against Noe Ramirez was the best of Tebow’s at-bats. Porcello struck him out on a pitch down and away, which Tebow slightly objected to umpire Ryan Additon, feeling it might have been low. Brandon Workman also showed him a curveball, and Tebow just froze in his fourth and final at-bat.
The polite Tebow was asked what he said to Additon, and he said, “Probably something like, ‘Really?’ I promise it wasn’t too harsh.’’
He took batting practice wearing his familiar No. 15 under the microscope of the media and his teammates and the Red Sox, who watched every swing intently.
He had a terrific batting practice swing. He showed his raw power, hitting a ball against the scoreboard in left-center, but the prevailing pregame thought was, “Let’s see what happens when he faces real pitching,’’ especially a Cy Young winner in Porcello.
Ask Michael Jordan how tough it is to make the conversion to professional baseball from another sport. As they say, “It ain’t easy.’’ But Red Sox manager John Farrell, for one, gave the 29-year-old Tebow credit for having the confidence and “the willingness to fail.’’
Tebow, who hit .194 in the Arizona Fall League, has failed a lot since his days at Florida. But if you looked like him, you’d be confident, too. If you had to describe his body type, you’d probably think Josh Hamilton. He’s obviously a big guy who can run. The funny thing is he hasn’t impressed with his throwing from the outfield. And his arm was part of problem in his failed attempts in the NFL.
Wearing No. 97 for the game, Tebow batted eighth, one spot ahead of former University of Connecticut third baseman L.J. Mazzilli, son of former major league player and manager Lee Mazzilli. One spot ahead of Tebow was Amed Rosario, a talented shortstop prospect.
Tebow is still the cat’s meow in these parts. His name invokes a rock star response from his fans. There were Tebow shirts all over First Data Field, rivaling the number of David Wright jerseys.
“I didn’t go to Florida at the same time as Tim, but sure, if you’re a Gator, he’s the guy you watched and followed and cheered for and marveled at,’’ said Johnson. “I think we’re all curious about how he’s going to do. We’re all rooting for him.’’
After being hit by a fellow Gator, Tebow mused, “Where’s the love? I’ve been good at taking a lot of hits in my career.’’
By all accounts, Tebow is a fine person. The Mets allowed him to DH in a major league spring training game because management thinks he’s such a positive influence on the other players, even though he’s never been a major leaguer.
What’s sad about some of these great athletes is that they are good enough to make rosters of two professional sports, but never truly make it big. Drew Henson comes to mind. And then there are guys such as Danny Ainge, who made two professional sports teams — the Blue Jays and the Celtics. If he had stayed with the Blue Jays scouts believe he would have been an above-average major league player, but of course he made the right decision.
Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, Brian Jordan, Otto Graham, Gene Conley, and Jim Thorpe are among the standard bearers for two-sport athletes. But let’s face it, it’s extremely difficult.
Tebow has experienced failure in football, and he is now in baseball. But it doesn’t seem to faze him.
“You have to deal with it in baseball,’’ he said. “If you’re really, really good you get out seven out of 10 times. You have to be mentally tough and ask yourself where did I go wrong, and you have to be honest with yourself. My past experiences have helped me with this, as well.’’
He knows he spent 12 years away from baseball, barely swinging a bat. There’s a lot of catching up to do, making up for lost time. He understands that, so he’s trying to soak everything in.
“As an athlete you can’t let one day define anything,’’ he said. “It’s a process and there are things you’re working toward. I know a lot of people will sensationalize it and say it’s the best day of all time or the worst day of all time. For me it’s just a day. It’s just the next opportunity to get four at-bats and wake up and doing it again because there’ll be a lot more days like this.’’
Tebow doesn’t know where all this will lead. He just wants to “enjoy it every day. Having fun playing a game I started playing when I was 4 years old and I’m blessed to play it. I think also to really put in the work and dive into this thing and try to be the best I can be. I want to work at this thing and listen to the best who play it and coach it and improve and go strive to see what I can do.’’
You’ve got to admire Tebow for trying this. He’s a great athlete who doesn’t want to give it up. But you just sense that even if it doesn’t work out, Tebow is going to be OK.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.
