Julio Cortez / Associated Press
Tim Tebow’s professional baseball career is officially over.
On Wednesday, the New York Mets announced the former NFL quarterback retired. Tebow joined the Mets organization in September 2016 as a member of the club’s instructional league and eventually reached the Triple-A level.
“It is a pleasure to have Tim in our organization, as he has been a consummate professional during his four years with Mets,” said Mets President Sandy Alderson. “Upon reaching the Triple-A level in 2019, he far exceeded expectations when he entered the system in 2016 and must be very proud of his achievements.”
Although Tebow never made it to the major leagues, he launched a home run on his first minor league official at bat and was nominated for the Eastern League All-Star team in 2018.
“I want to thank Mets, Mr. Alderson, the fans and all my colleagues for the chance to be part of such a huge organization,” said Tebow. “I loved every minute of the trip, but right now I feel called in other directions. I never want to be partially involved in anything. I always want to be 100 percent involved in whatever I choose. Thanks again for everyone’s support in this incredible baseball journey. , I will always value my time as a Met. “
Tebow ended his career with a cutoff line of 0.233 / 0.299 / 0.338, 18 home runs and 107 RBI in 287 games.
Despite his baseball adventure, Tebow is best known for his football career.
He was brilliant at the high school level for the Florida Gators and won two national titles and a Heisman Trophy. This convinced the Denver Broncos to select him with a choice in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, and he played two seasons with the team.
While fighting for accuracy, he led Denver into the divisional playoff round in 2011, after stunning the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round with an 80-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas to win the game in overtime.
Tebow played for the New York Jets in 2012, but gave only eight passes, and the New England Patriots released him before the start of the season in 2013.