San Francisco
The ex-NFL quarterback will be promoted to Class A St. Lucie and will join the team on Tuesday, according to Mets general manager Sandy Alderson.
The 29-year-old is slated to play his final game Sunday with Class A Columbia, and he entered Sunday hitting .222 with a .311 on-base percentage and a .651 OPS. He had struck out 69 times in 212 at-bats.
“His recent past two, three weeks actually trending pretty well and given all the circumstances, age and so forth, felt this was the right time to promote him,” Alderson said.
“A lot of different things have been much better in the last 15 games or something like that. On the other hand, we recognize this is not a usual circumstance, but we just felt everything involved it was about the right time for him to move to high-A ball.”
Alderson cited the former Jets quarterback’s on-base percentage, isolated power, swing and exit velocities as some of the areas he’s show in improvement in during recent weeks. He said the team believes Tebow can handle the promotion.
“We’re pleased with the first half of the season. It’s not like he’s tearing up the league but at the same time all the indications are positive in terms of various things we like at, chase rates, exit velocities, and other things,” Alderson said before the Mets played the Giants. “The bottom line is the average isn’t there but he’s improving.”
He added: “I wouldn’t say he’s excelled there but I would say what he’s done there given all the circumstances justifies the promotion to St. Lucie.”
Alderson also said Tebow has had a positive effect on his teammates.
“He’s been outstanding,” Alderson said. “He’s had an impact of all his teammates, his staff, nothing but positives and I expect that will continue in St. Lucie as well.”
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