After his tryout last week, suitors are emerging for Tim Tebow. The Braves are one of those, and it kind of makes sense.
While it wasn’t perfect, Tim Tebow’s baseball showcase held this week went fairly well. His swing needs work, and he appears rusty in the outfield. His throwing motion is plagued by many of the same issues that held him back as an NFL quarterback. A few scouts gave Tebow an 80 grade for power, and he ran very well for a 6-foot-3, 255-pound man. And, of course, there are the intangibles that come with an athlete like Tebow.
As the dust settles on Tebow’s showcase, MLB teams have begun emerging as contenders for his services. The Atlanta Braves are reportedly one of those teams, and that’s not as silly as it sounds. The Braves are in a lengthy rebuilding process, and are set to move into their new stadium next year.
Tebow makes a ton of sense for the Braves. Here are five reasons why.
Aug 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; The sun sets as San Diego Padres starting pitcher Paul Clemens (47) delivers a pitch to Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) in the third inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
They have nothing to lose
If the year was 1996 instead of 2016, it would make no sense for the Braves to sign a player like Tebow. In the past, the Braves were perennial contenders, racking up division titles behind Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Chipper Jones. That’s no longer the case. The Braves are headed for a 100-loss season after losing 95 a year ago. In the first full year of their rebuild, the Braves are still a long ways off from contending again.
There is really no reason for the Braves not to sign Tebow and let him play in their minor league system. The Braves top-30 prospect list is filled almost entirely with young pitchers. The mound is clearly the primary area of focus for the front office as they look to rebuild the team. There are only three outfielders in the top 30, and two of them are still in the lower levels of the minor leagues.
Adding Tebow to the Double-A or Triple-A roster would not steal playing time and at-bats from a top prospect. Tebow could slide into left field or right field without harming the development process of a younger, more elite prospect. Giving Tebow at least one full season in the minor leagues to work out the kinks in his swing is a low-risk/high-reward move for the Braves, and a gamble they can afford to make at this point in their rebuilding process.
Sep 1, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) celebrates a run scored off of a single by catcher Anthony Recker (not pictured) with second baseman Jace Peterson (8) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) in the fifth inning of their game against the San Diego Padres at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
The power potential
The Braves have had one of the most pitiful offenses in the league the past two years. So far this year, they have hit only 94 home runs. The top three sluggers on the Baltimore Orioles have more. The Braves have the fewest home runs in all of baseball, the lowest slugging percentage and have scored the second fewest runs. There’s a reason Shelby Miller lost 17 games last year despite posting a 3.02 ERA.
Power is one of the hardest things to develop in a hitter, and Tebow comes has it naturally. Yes, he is going to take his lumps when trying to figure out breaking balls, pitch sequencing and situational hitting. There is a big difference between standing in for batting practice and trying to launch every single pitch. Figuring out how to be a baseball player again after a decade away from the game will be Tebow’s biggest hurdle.
A good power hitter who can hit 20-30 home runs a season will cost a franchise $15-20 million a year. Tebow will be much cheaper than that for the Braves, and they can effectively control his rights for his entire career. At the age of 29, Tebow will likely never hit free agency, and the first four years of his career will be very cheap if he does pan out as a baseball player.
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 14: Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos gestures as he steps to the line of scrimmage against the New England Patriots during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 14, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The leadership potential
The Braves clubhouse is still gelling and searching for its own identity. Tebow would not walk in and immediately hold the attention of a room, but he is an established leader who will attempt to lead by example. His name also has a little bit of cache, and he would earn the respect of his fellow players quickly, especially if he shows them he is serious about making it as a baseball player.
In the minor leagues, Tebow would be one of the older players on whichever roster he makes. His teammates will have grown up watching him on the gridiron. The Braves have been stockpiling young talent over the past two years, and Tebow could help mold it in his image.
Tebow’s work ethic and leadership qualities have never been in doubt. He essentially willed the Florida Gators to national titles, and the Denver Broncos to a series of wild comeback wins. Whatever the Braves ask of Tebow, you can bet he will be willing to try his hardest to find a way to get a positive result. That might not mean as much at the major-league level, but it is valuable in the minor leagues.
Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; EPSN analyst Tim Tebow looks on prior to the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The TV potential
Tebow is already a polished on-air personality. He has been on ESPN’s College Gameday, Fox Sports, the SEC Network and Good Morning America. If there’s one thing baseball struggles with, it’s branding its players as media personalities. Tebow already comes with that extra sizzle built in.
The possibilities are endless with Tebow. At the very least, he should have a reality show on the Braves’ regional sports network. While the extra attention on a third-string quarterback was an annoyance in the NFL, a moribund team like the Braves that is struggling to get fans into the stadium needs all the extra help it can get.
If the Braves do sign Tebow, they need to capitalize on his large media reach. There has to be a weekly show chronicling his journey through the minor leagues. He should be featured prominently in promotional materials touting the farm system. Going the extra mile to promote the heck out of Tim Tebow’s time with the franchise will only benefit the Braves in the long run. Someone in baseball needs to step up and find new and creative ways to sell the faces of the game. The Braves can help build a formula for teams looking to market and promote their prospects before they even set foot in a major league clubhouse.
GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 28: Tim Tebow #15 of the Florida Gators shakes hands with the fans following the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
The SEC factor
There’s conference allegiance, and then there’s the fervor with which sports fans in the southeast follow the SEC. The NCAA’s most powerful football conference has an almost cult-like following, and Tim Tebow is one of its greatest heroes. With many of their minor league outposts in smaller southern cities struggling to draw in fans, Tebow would generate a buzz.
Adding Tebow to the Mississippi Braves of the Double-A Southern League or the Gwinnett Braves of the Triple-A International League would play off of SEC fandom in those areas. Fans in the south love the SEC, and would flock to watch Tebow, whether or not he came from their favorite school.
It’s hard to get an entire region excited about a baseball team, and even harder in the football-crazy south. Tebow won’t be in the big leagues until late next season at the earliest. Realistically speaking, 2018 is a better target date for his MLB debut.
The Braves will have already moved into their shiny new digs by then, but Tebow’s presence in the minor leagues and the buzz he will generate will serve to build interest in the team. Having more fans in attendance at Double-A and Triple-A will help to get fans excited about all of the other young talent coming up through the system. That could pay big dividends in getting Georgia and the surrounding states excited about the future of the Braves.
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