Tebow working out with ex-Mets Gary Sheffield, Daniel Murphy

Tim Tebow is hoping two former New York Mets players can help him crack the club's big-league roster.

Though Tebow didn't receive an invite to the team's major-league complex for his first foray into spring training, the former NFL quarterback has been working with retired 22-year veteran Gary Sheffield to help ensure he'll get his call soon.

"I've definitely done a lot of training with Gary," Tebow told Newsday's Kimberly A. Martin on Friday. "He's awesome. Gary's a good friend and he's just always been a supporter. He's one of the best to ever do it, so he's been very helpful."

Sheffield has been one of Tebow's most vocal supporters regarding his transition to baseball. After spending time together in the batting cage in August, he had high praise for the 29-year-old, labeling him a "natural" and backing up his big-league potential.

For more contemporary baseball advice (Sheffield retired in 2011), however, Tebow has also spent time this offseason with Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, who played for the Mets for seven seasons between 2008-15.

"It's not that we talk that much about the Mets organization, although they have been great to both of us," Tebow told The New York Post's Brian Costello. "It's just about the pursuit of baseball, the ins and outs. He is a total analyst of the game and works like crazy.

"For us, it's been going over the little things over and over and over again. Talking pitches, out of the hand, how we're picking stuff up. That's what Daniel does that's such a different level."