Tim Tebow May Be On His Last Chance As New York Mets Invite Him To Spring Training

The New York Mets have invited former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow to their major league spring training camp again this season. But at age 32 and with a fairly unimpressive minor league career to this point, will this be the former Florida Gator’s final chance at a big-league ball career?

According to MLB.com's David Adler, Tebow is entering his fourth season as a Met. He spent 2017 split between low and high single A in the organization before being promoted to double A in 2018. Last year, Tebow played at the triple A level with the Syracuse Mets but hit well below the Mendoza line.

In 77 games last season, the former Heisman trophy winner slashed a .162 batting average and managed just 10 doubles and four home runs. His 2018 fared far better, albeit at a lower level when he posted a much more respectable .274 average while adding 14 doubles and six big flies.

Over Tebow’s three full seasons in the Mets organization, he has put together a .224 average and 108 RBIs in 286 games. He is also an injury risk as each of the past two seasons has ended early for him. In 2018, Tebow succumbed to a broken bone in his right hand. Then, in 2019, his season ended early because of a laceration on his left hand in late July.

All this begs the question of just how much longer the Mets will persist with Tebow. His injury history is growing by the season, his production has always been limited and is getting worse and he is not getting any younger.

Baseball is a game where players can retain their skillset well into their 30s. However, at age 32, Tebow has likely shown about as much quality as he can on a diamond. This will probably be his final chance to show big league clubs, be they the Mets or someone else, that he can be a productive part of their organization.

The Mets also invited seven other non-roster players to their big-league camp for 2020, all of whom are younger and more productive than Tebow. This will be possibly his biggest obstacle yet in his professional baseball career.