Tim Tebow signs minor-league deal with the New York Mets

Former University of Florida Heisman Trophy victor Tim Tebow is trying his hand at professional baseball, and the New York Mets are making their dream of actually selling jerseys come true as well.

The New York Mets’ General Manager Sandy Alderson consulted with co-owner Jeff Wilpon on Wednesday before approving the deal, according to The Christian Post.

Tebow concentrated more on his football career rather than baseball, and the last time he played the sport was during his junior year at Florida’s Nease High School, where he was a 2005 all-state baseball player. He is attempting to launch a baseball career four years after the end of his time as an National Football League quarterback.

Alderson said Friday it wouldnt be practical to make such a big commitment to Tebow only as an attempt to market Tebows name. “This was not about making money”.

“The opportunity to sell T-shirts and the like is nearly non-existent. This was about baseball.

The recently-signed free agent Tebow arrived in Port St. Lucie this week to participate in the Mets’ Florida Instructional League, a fall camp that helps to develop prospects for the team. “And aside from the age, this is a classic player development opportunity for us”.

“We don’t have to listen to what everybody else wants us to do with our lives”, Tebow said during a telephone conference call.

“Why not?” he asked. “From our standpoint, this is an interesting experiment.”.

Tebow will be allowed to leave the instructional league for his job as an analyst for the SEC Network, then return.