Tim Tebow hit the first pitch that he saw as a Binghamton Rumble Ponie for a home run over the right field wall. It was one of those moments that reminded me of a famous saying in sports: "Sport is the best drama because it is unscripted." No one knows what will happen at a ball park. No one knows what will happen when one goes to a game or watches on television.
This was the first time I had ever been to an opening day game at NYSEG stadium to see Binghamton play. It was 30 degrees with a persistent wind. Half of the stadium was empty. However, those who were there will never forget Tebow's home run. It reminded me of why people go to a game or watch a game. It reminded me of why people invest time in sports.
The home run made the evening worthwhile. It overshadowed the cold and the wind. It's one of those unforgettable momemts.
There's nothing quite like a home run. It excites the crowd. It draws attention to the hitter and it brings teammates out from the dugout to congratulate the hitter. It can also give confidence to a hitter and a team.
Tebow has homered in his first at bat with a new team three times. He also homered in his first at bat in single A baseball with the St. Lucie Mets and in the rookie league with the Columbia Fireflies . As various people have said, Tebow knows how to make a good first impression.
Of course, in order to be a true major league prospect a player must make more than a first impression. A player needs to play consistently well. A player needs to prove he belongs in the major leagues by moving up the minor league ladder. It remains to be seen whether Tebow can do that.
Tebow's baseball journey began on April 20th 2016, when he participated at a Major league baseball workout. He did well during batting practice. However, he did not do as well when he faced fastballs from former mlb pitchers Chad Smith and David Aardsma. He did not make contact as much when he faced Smith and Aardsma. Overall, scouts were impressed with his power during batting practice,
Tebow also caught fly balls during the workout. Josh Peters of USA today wrote that "Tebow caught every catchable ball, chasing down balls in and out of play without incident." A scout told Peters that in his opinion Tebow was a decent defender.
Joon Lee, writing for BleacherReport wrote that "The fact that Tebow isn't built like a typical baseball player also plays a role in teams approach him at the plate. In theory, teams like to pound Tebow with inside fastballs because his frame doesn't allow him to turn on pitches as quickly as others do." It remains to be seen if Tebow can adjust to this approach. Tebow is a hard working player who may be able to make adjustments to inside pitches.
Tebow is an organizational prospect, and may never be a serious major league prospect. The scouting report on Tebow is mixed. He did not play baseball for 10 years, so his timing was off to begin last year. His swing was slow and he had a hard time catching up to fastballs. However, he has swung the bat fairly well this year, and he seems to be improving.
So far, Tebow has had limited success in the minor leagues. Tebow hit .220 with 3 home runs and 23 runs batted in for Columbia. He hit .231 with 5 home runs and 29 runs batted in. So far, he has hit .242 with 1 home run and 8 runs batted in for the Rumble Ponies. Tebow needs to do more to distinguish himself as a major league prospect.
However, Tebow has had some success at Binghamton besides his home run on opening day. When the Rumble Ponies were playing the Akron RubberDucks, Tebow went 2-3 with a double and a triple. His triple keyed a 9th inning comeback that helped the Rumble Ponies win 7-6. Additionally, Tebow went 2-2 against New Hampshire on April 24th.
Tebow, of course, is primarily known for his accomplishments on the football field. Tebow led the Florida Gators to national championships in 2006 and 2008. He won the Heisman Trophy and the Davy O'Brien award in 2007. He was one of the most successful college quarterbacks of the past 20 years.
Tebow was drafted in the first round in 2010 by the Denver Broncos. He led the Broncos to a playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tebow there for 316 yards and 2 touchdowns. He threw a game winning touchdown to Damaryius Thomas on the first play in overtime.
Tebow has not played in the NFL for a few years. Currently, he works for ESPN during the football season as a college football analyst. If Tebow is called up to New York when major league rosters are expanded, then he may have to delay his work as an analyst for next season. Whether he is called up to New York in September probably depends upon how well he plays in the minor leagues this season.
It's uncertain how far Tebow will go in his baseball career. However, he has brought excitement to the Rumble Ponies and the Binghamton area. Tebow continues to work hard and be a good teammate. He works on his game and is trying to contribute as much as possible to the Rumble Ponies this season.
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