Mets promote Tim Tebow to High-A St. Lucie

Tim Tebow, signed by the Mets last September to much surprise and fanfare—and, in some circles, consternation—has been promoted from the team’s Low-A affiliate in Columbia to High-A St. Lucie, their third-highest-ranked affiliate.

The former NFL quarterback, who was signed last September for a reported $100,000 bonus, appeared in the Arizona Fall League and then in major league camp during spring training before starting his first full minor league season in the Columbia outfield.

Tebow seemed to struggle there, hitting .222/.311/.340 in 241 Low-A plate appearances, with three home runs in 63 games. However, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson cited advanced metrics that the team has been impressed by, such as the 29-year-old outfielder’s increased exit velocity.

Tebow’s presence provided a measurable boost to South Atlantic League attendance, and the expectation is that he will well do the same at St. Lucie given his immense popularity in the state of Florida—this time for an affiliate owned outright by the Mets. Tebow can also be expected to provide a spark for the team’s stagnant two-minute drill.