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Mets invite Tebow to big-league camp

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It's officially Tebow Time in the Grapefruit League.

Tim Tebow, the former Heisman-winning quarterback who shockingly joined the New York Mets organization last year after his professional football career faltered, was one of nine players who received an invitation to the Mets' big-league camp Friday, the team announced.

This marks Tebow's first official invite to big-league camp since switching sports. The Mets did summon him from the minor-league complex on a few occasions last spring, primarily due to a shortage of players because of the World Baseball Classic.

He struggled in those brief appearances, however, going just 4-for-18 at big-league camp while being struck out with apparent ease by Cy Young winners Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer.

Last year marked the 30-year-old's first season playing baseball since his high school days. He began his pro career with the Single-A Columbia Fireflies, and was then moved up to the High-A St. Lucie Mets midseason.

Between the two levels, Tebow hit a combined .226/.309/.347 with eight homers, 24 doubles, and 52 RBIs in 2017 while seeing time at both left field and designated hitter. His OPS dropped after he was promoted, going from .664 in 242 plate appearances for the Fireflies to .648 in 244 PAs with St. Lucie.

Despite the full-time SEC Network analyst's low statistical output as a baseball rookie, Tebow's 2017 season wasn't without its highlights. He hit a home run in his first professional at-bat, then crushed an opposite-field walk-off shot in July shortly after his promotion.

Related - Alderson: Mets signed Tebow 'because this is an entertainment business'

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