Calling it "another day in the office," Tim Tebow took Dedeaux Field at the University of Southern California on Tuesday, in an attempt to impress at least one of the 28 scouts in attendance. Long story, short: it didn't go well.
There were certain things that could already be expected from a former NFL quarterback... Tebow was strong, fast, and looked good in the uniform. Unfortunately, it takes more than a pretty face and a tight shirt to play professional baseball. The positives are that he ran a 6.7 in the 60-yard dash, a very impressive time for someone hauling around 250 pounds, and he hit a few home runs in batting practice. Other than that, coming from my perspective, he looked awkward while at the plate and fielding fly balls, and his throwing motion looked as if he was using his opposite arm.
But don't take my word for it...
Here are some headlines and quotes following Tebow's tryout:
"It was a complete waste of time. It was like watching an actor trying to portray a baseball player." - Anonymous American League scout
"“He tried. He tried. That’s the best I can say. He is crazy strong, and could run well in one direction, but that’s it. He only had one good throw of all his throws.’’ - MLB scout
"Mostly he looked overmatched, particularly against off-speed pitches." - USA Today
"Tim Tebow, Who Cannot Throw a Football, Also Cannot Throw a Baseball" - Slate.com
"Tim Tebow and His Little League Tryout" - Forbes
It is clear what the consensus of the scouts and writers seemed to be, but I encourage anybody reading to check out some videos of Tebow's tryout. He claims that he thought things "went pretty well," which is rather optimistic, but then again he couldn't have expected to do much with it. At the end of the day, Tebow can write this off as a last hurrah in terms of competing at any professional athletic level. EVEN with things going the way they did, one team has revealed a certain degree of interest in giving Tebow a chance... my team, the Atlanta Braves.