Detroit Tigers: Could Tim Tebow Join the MLB?

It’s common knowledge that Mike Ilitch likes to add recognizable names to his Detroit Tigers roster. Since Tim Tebow has started talking about playing baseball, would Ilitch be interested in adding a Heisman Trophy winner to his fine team?

If Ilitch is interested, where could Tebow fit in?

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Tebow played in the outfield and he batted left. Unfortunately, the last time he played baseball was when he was a high school junior – which was more than 12 years ago.

Is Tebow just trying to get some media attention? All signs point to no.

On Facebook, Ken Rosenthal posted a comment from Chad Moeller, who has been working with Tebow: “I am beyond impressed with Tim’s athleticism and swing, and it goes without saying that he has shown a high level of discipline and strong work ethic. I see bat speed and power and real baseball talent. I truly believe Tim has the skill set and potential to achieve his goal of playing in the Major Leagues, and based on what I have seen over the past two months, it could happen relatively quickly.”

If Tebow does succeed, there is no reason why he couldn’t be drafted by the Tigers. It’s no secret that the Tigers are short on left-handed batters. It is also no secret that there have been issues in the outfield all season. While Cameron Maybin, J.D. Martinez, and Justin Upton are outstanding players, the only bench player who has been successful at giving them time off is Tyler Collins.

If Tebow is for real, he could be an asset off the bench. Maybe.

According to ESPN, he has been training for nearly a year. And, as a junior in high school (in 2005) he hit .494. His high school baseball team made it to the semifinals in the Florida state playoffs. 

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There is something fishy about players who had some success (or a lot of success) in other sports thinking they can get into the MLB. It is clearly not an easy task to hit a 95-mph fastball or even a 70-mph knuckleball. To me, the goal of quickly getting into the MLB at age 29, just because he wants to, seems like an insult to the players who have dedicated their lives to baseball, like Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, or Victor Martinez.

Tebow played in the NFL for three years with the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets. During his time as a quarterback, he had 17 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and over 2,000 passing yards.

Despite the fact that Tebow couldn’t cut it in the NFL, his body size and physique could lend itself to baseball. He is a muscular and physically fit 6’3, 245 pounds, which is comparable in size to Cabrera, who stands 6’4 at 240.

Next: Tigers vs. Mariners: What to Watch For

Could Ilitch be watching? There is a slight possibility.