Scout: I can't see happy ending to Tebow's baseball career

Just like Michael Jordan and Tracy McGrady before him, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow is set to try his hand at professional baseball, with his agents confirming Tuesday that the 28-year-old will attempt to make it as an outfielder more than a decade after he last set foot on a diamond.

Not surprisingly, talent evaluators aren't bullish about his chances.

"I couldn't imagine there would be a happy ending to Tim Tebow’s baseball career," one National League scout told J.J. Cooper of Baseball America, admitting Tebow "could have been a good player" had he opted for baseball over football. "But someone will probably sign the guy and give him a chance. If he was a pitcher, it’s different. A good arm is a good arm. But he’s lost 10 years in the batter's box."

Tebow, the University of Florida standout who played his last snap in the NFL in 2012 (and currently serves as an analyst for ESPN), has spent much of the past year honing his skills at the plate and in the outfield, and will hold a workout for MLB teams later this month.

Having not seen live pitching on a regular basis since 2005, though, one American League area scout said it would be "nearly impossible" for Tebow to hit at a professional level, noting that "his only shot would be as a pitcher."

Despite the lack of optimism in the scouting community, Chad Moeller - who spent 11 years in the big leagues and has been training Tebow in Arizona - said he believes the 6-foot-3, 245-pound left-hander can make it to the majors.

"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," Moeller said in a statement. "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."