MIAMI -- Tim Tebow showed up to Spring Training this year featuring a shortened, stripped-down swing and a goal of making the big leagues -- the product of more than a year transitioning from professional football to baseball.
So far, what Tebow is doing is working. The Double-A Eastern League on Friday named Tebow to its All-Star team, rewarding a first half in which the former Heisman Trophy winner batted .261/.335/.398 with five home runs in 67 games at the Mets' Binghamton affiliate. That includes a .318/.357/.455 mark in June, easily his best month since debuting in the Minors for Class A Columbia last season. Tebow advanced from there to Class A Advanced St. Lucie, then began this season at Binghamton, where his .722 OPS ranks 35th in the Eastern League.
The Rumble Ponies are sending five players to the Eastern League All-Star Game in Trenton, N.J., but because they recently promoted Peter Alonso and Jeff McNeil to Triple-A Las Vegas, those two will not take part. Instead, Tebow will play alongside teammates Nabil Crismatt and Daniel Zamora, catcher Patrick Mazeika and infielder Levi Michael, as well as fellow Minor League stars from other teams including Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and Bo Bichette.
In Spring Training, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said he expected Tebow to play in the Major Leagues at some point in his career. Tebow's early success this season, combined with the Mets' descent down the National League standings, could accelerate that process.
"I have learned a lot," Tebow said earlier this month. "I am also continuing to make those adjustments and learning to improve based on the pitchers, series, games, all of that. I think, as a hitter, you have to have a short memory and also continue to be able to learn. I still think that there are a lot of things that I know I will improve on, and can improve on, and I am making those strides every day."