Tim Tebow is heading to the New York Mets’ Single-A affiliate, and said affiliate couldn’t be happier.
Mets manager Terry Collins announced Monday that Tebow will begin the 2017 regular season with the Class A Columbia Fireflies after finishing out spring training with the big league club. That’s obviously great news for the Fireflies — they now boast a high-profile former NFL quarterback on their roster whom they can promote to draw fans to their games.
— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) March 20, 2017
Strangely enough, though, this isn’t the first time Columbia has linked itself to Tebow. Way back in August, when Tebow first announced he was pursuing a Major League Baseball career, the Fireflies sent out the following tweet:
So I heard @TimTebow is considering baseball… pic.twitter.com/L1lJYyPveq
What do you think? Leave a comment.— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) August 9, 2016
Yes, that’s Tebow’s mug edited onto a Fireflies uniform — a full month before he even signed with the Mets. In short, the Fireflies basically called their shot here.
The @colafireflies predicted this 8 months* ago!
(*a month before Tim Tebow signed with the Mets) pic.twitter.com/egmOenveOG
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 20, 2017
Who knows if Tebow will be able to hang at the Single-A level — he’s hitting .235 in spring training as of Monday — but at least he’ll generate plenty of buzz in Columbia, S.C.
Thumbnail photo via Scott Rovak/USA TODAY Sports Images