Philadelphia Eagles

Tim Tebow slated to appear in Mets spring training game this week

Published Mar. 7, 2017 2:17 p.m. ET

Lindsey Foltin

Tim Tebow is expected to appear make his Grapefruit League debut with the Mets this week, according to the New York Post.

The former Heisman Trophy-winner has been penciled in to play with the major-league squad against the Red Sox on Wednesday and the Astros on Friday, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told The Post.

The Mets will be short-handed over the next few weeks, as they are losing 14 players --including 11 major-leaguers -- to the World Baseball Classic, which begins on Monday. They will be forced to borrow Tebow, among others, from minor-league camp to fill out their roster for a stretch of five games in three days that includes two split-squads.

Tebow will likely draw larger crowds than normal for both Wednesday and Friday's home games at First Data Field, as interest in the former football star remains high.

The Mets signed Tebow to a minor-league deal in September after he publicly announced his intentions to pursue a professional baseball career. He spent the offseason participating in the Mets' Arizona Fall League, where he batted .194/.296/.242 with 20 strike-outs in 70 plate appearances.