Clock runs out on Tebow's time in Minors

Baseball isn't running on Tebow time any longer.

On Wednesday night, the Mets announced outfield prospect Tim Tebow has voluntarily retired from the game. The 33-year-old, who had been invited to New York's Major League Spring Training, exited professional baseball after compiling a .223/.299/.338 slash line over three seasons in the Mets system. The former Heisman Trophy winner brought fans out in droves during his time in the Minors.

I want to thank the @Mets, Mr. Alderson, the fans and all my teammates for the chance to be a part of such a great organization. I loved every minute of the journey, but at this time I feel called in other directions...

— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 18, 2021

Tebow made a habit of delivering impressive debuts early in his career. In his first Mets instructional league at-bat against the Cardinals on Sept. 28, 2016, he hit a home run. In his first at-bat for Class A Columbia against Augusta on April 26, 2017, he went yard. And in his Double-A debut for Binghamton against Portland on April 5, 2018, he belted another long ball. That year, he was named to an Eastern League midseason All-Star team, representing the East squad as the designated hitter.

He capped his career at Triple-A Syracuse, batting .163 in 77 games before a hand laceration ended his season.

Over the course of his career, Tebow smacked 18 homers, drove in 107 runs and scored 107 times.

“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,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a statement. “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.”

The former Heisman Trophy winner quarterbacked the University of Florida to national championships in 2007 and '08. He won the Heisman as the most outstanding college football player of the year as sophomore in 2007 and was drafted 25th overall by the Broncos in 2010. Tebow became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in his first three career starts en route to leading Denver to the playoffs.