PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Since Tim Tebow arrived at Mets camp last Monday, he has stayed confined to the back fields, logging work with his Minor League teammates.
That is about to change. The Mets tentatively plan to borrow Tebow from Minor League camp for his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Red Sox, according to a source. Tebow is also likely to play Friday against the Astros, with both games at home at First Data Field.
The former Heisman Trophy-winning football player will appear late in those games as one of several Minor Leaguers on the roster. Not only are the Mets losing 14 players this week to the World Baseball Classic, shaving depth off their roster, but they also have split-squad games scheduled for Wednesday and Friday. With roughly half their roster going on the road those days, they simply do not have enough players to staff two game rosters, creating a need for Minor League players to fill the gaps.
• Spring Training: Info | Tickets | Schedule | Gear
Enter Tebow, whose last organized game action came in the Arizona Fall League in October. Though Tebow will play most of his games this spring on the Minor League side, he should appear in at least those two Major League games next week with the big league club.
The Mets signed Tebow to a Minor League deal in September after he announced his intentions to retire from the NFL and pursue a baseball career. He is likely to spend this summer at one of the Mets' Class A affiliates.