Tim Tebow is hanging up his cleats for good — his baseball cleats, that’s.
The former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback introduced his retirement from baseball Wednesday after four seasons as a minor leaguer in the Mets’ system. His choice got here solely days after he had been invited to main league spring coaching.
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“I want to thank the Mets, [team president Sandy] Alderson, the fans and all my teammates for the chance to be a part of such a great organization,” Tebow mentioned in an announcement. “I loved every minute of the journey, but at this time I feel called in other directions. I never want to be partially in on anything. I always want to be 100 percent in on whatever I choose.
“Thank you once more for everybody’s help of this superior journey in baseball, I’ll all the time cherish my time as a Met.”
I need to thank the @Mets, Mr. Alderson, the followers and all my teammates for the prospect to be part of such an excellent group. I beloved each minute of the journey, however at the moment I really feel known as in different instructions…
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 18, 2021
I by no means need to be partially in on something. I all the time need to be 100% in on no matter I select. Thank you once more for everybody’s help of this superior journey in baseball, I’ll all the time cherish my time as a Met! #LGM
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 18, 2021
Tebow, who signed with the Mets as a free-agent outfielder in 2016, was an All-Star on the Double-A stage in 2018 with a .273 common and six dwelling runs in 84 video games. He struggled at Triple-A the following yr, although, hitting simply .163 by 77 video games as his season was reduce brief by a hand damage.
“It has been a pleasure to have Tim in our organization as he’s been a consummate professional during his four years with the Mets,” Alderson mentioned. “By reaching the Triple-A level in 2019, he far exceeded expectations when he first entered the system in 2016 and he should be very proud of his accomplishments.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic pressured the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season, the 33-year-old hinted at his potential retirement, however he had beforehand deliberate to a minimum of attend spring coaching.
“It’s not something that I want to do forever,” Tebow instructed MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo in November, “because there’s a lot of other things that are in my heart that I want to pursue.”
A primary-round decide of the Broncos in 2010, Tebow performed three seasons in the NFL earlier than transitioning into his present function as a TV analyst with ESPN’s SEC Network.