The Marlins will attend former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow’s workout for major league teams Tuesday in Los Angeles, a source told George Richards and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Tebow has experienced plenty of success in Florida, of course, having won a Heisman Trophy and two national championships as the Gators’ starting signal-caller from 2007-09. The 29-year-old faces long odds of landing a contract with a major league team, though, as he hasn’t played baseball in more than a decade. As for the Marlins, Richards and Jackson note that they have a scout in the LA area and will merely do their due diligence in checking out Tebow’s audition.
More from the National League East:
- Nationals right-hander Joe Ross, out since July 2 with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, reports Jamal Collier of MLB.com. There might not be enough time for Ross to build up the arm strength necessary to factor into the Nationals’ rotation down the stretch, however, as Syracuse will play its final game Sept. 5. “I don’t know, that’s a question that we’re trying to answer now,” manager Dusty Baker said of Ross’ chances of starting again in 2016. “And if not, then hopefully in the playoffs he can be on the team and help us out of the bullpen.” Before succumbing to injury, Ross recorded a 3.49 ERA, 7.46 K/9 and 2.45 BB/9 over 95 1/3 innings. Whether as a starter or reliever, then, his return would serve as a boon to the Nats.
- The Phillies are primed to shut down right-handed starters Vince Velasquez and Jake Thompson for the season in the coming weeks, writes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. “I haven’t been involved in in-depth conversations, but I know at some point Thompson is going to be cut short, and Velasquez is going to be cut short at some point,” stated manager Pete Mackanin. “But it’s not an exact science right now. We don’t have a definite date yet. Maybe another week. It depends on how many innings they give us now.” Velasquez, 24, has thrown 124 innings between the majors and minors this year and, when he starts Sunday, should surpass the career-high 124 2/3 he logged in 2013. In 119 major league frames this season, the former Astro has compiled a 4.31 ERA, 10.36 K/9 and 3.33 BB/9. The 22-year-old Thompson, meanwhile, has racked up a personal-high 149 innings, but only 19 1/3 have come in the majors. While the ex-Rangers farmhand has fared well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he has put up an ugly 9.78 ERA and 6.05 BB/9 during his short Phillies career. Once he and Velasquez vacate the Phillies’ rotation, fellow righties Alec Asher and David Buchanan are likely to take their spots, per Zolecki.
- The Phillies have fired three longtime members of their scouting department, including national cross-checker Mike Ledna, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. It’s unclear whether there will be more changes, notes Salisbury, but it’s possible with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and general manager Matt Klentak still putting their stamp on the organization since taking the reins last year.
Baseball essential has a good blog post up from a former mlb closer for Seattle (Aardsma, 2009) who pitched to Tebow. He doesn’t say Tebow will make it, but was impressed by his ability to recognize pitches and his power with a bomb bat.
This might not be the publicity stunt I thought it was.
Heard differently. Heard long swing with a hole in the bat. No tracking in outfield. Very robotic. Good luck.
Pure brilliance to let go of 3 scouts right after a draft, in which they had the top overall pick. Amaro is gone and the stupidity continues
Post draft actually makes the most sense. A winter change would have been in mid stream for scouting department. New personnel would be starting from scratch with only half the time to prepare
if you feel 3 scouts aren’t good enough to advise you for talent, you don’t keep them advising you in a pivotal draft.. They knew they were going to be fired long before the draft no matter what anyone says..
New personnel would not be starting from scratch, scouts are either promoted or hired from another team doing the same jobs so they know who’s available and have reports
“Hired from another team” bingo. The front office will bring in their guys. Who are under contract with other teams (Angels and Orioles most likely)
It is not necessarily that they did not like the scouts that were terminated, just prefer their own people. Most of the leg work, planning, initial viewing of potential draftees is done the year previous to the draft.
It’s a shame he couldn’t read a defense as well as he can read a pitch.
No seriously, good luck to him. He’s definitely an athlete – go hard dude.
Gary Sheffield said he was impressed with Tebow.
I don’t think it’s a publicity stunt, but a former athlete having a “midlife crisis” wondering what if he had focused on baseball instead of football. He’s lucky enough that his celebrity affords him the chance to hold a leaguewide audition.
A team will sign him to a minor league contract because it’ll sell tickets. I doubt he’ll even sniff a AAA roster, though. I do feel sorry for the kid that misses out because Tebow takes his roster spot.
Tebow’s not going to oust a legit prospect.
Agreed, but there are people who don’t get their stuff figured out until spending years in the minors.
It never ceases to amaze me when Cucks like you all post things like “Tebow Sucks” “Can’t Read A Defense” “Publicity Stunt” this guy is a fantastic athlete. Way better than anyone posting on this board. For a guy to work to get the opportunity to play professionally in multiple sports. Shoot in just 1 sport… You all would be lucky to sniff his jock strap on a football field, a baseball diamond, or probably any other athletic field of play you could dream up. Grow up. You want to criticize athletes? Do it for their attitudes, work ethic or off the field antics. Critique their play in comparison to other pros? Perfectly fine. But don’t do this BS when it’s you who suck in comparison to Tebow or any other ball player mention.
Wait a minute? So because I’m not as good at sports as Tim Tebow I’m not allowed to have an opinion about him? Huh. That’s the classic appeal to authority, right? I’ve never been president, why should I even get to vote?
No that’s not at all what I said. To make a derogatory statement about someone’s talent level when it is clearly superior to your own is just bad form. In regards to president, this is Apples to oranges. You could be president, though unlikely. You could never be Tebow level of athlete. And when you deride a president’s ability it’s usually in relation to other president’s performance, his policy, or the performance of his programs. I’m assuming you’ve tried to be an athlete and failed but never tried to be president. It’s not the same thing.
*drops mic and slowly walks away
Sorry, Mrs. Tebow. I promise the anonymous posters on a sports blog won’t criticize your son again.
Well said coonce!!