We’ve been asked a lot about this, so here’s the deal: Tim Tebow will make his New York Mets spring training debut Wednesday, as the team hosts the Boston Red Sox at First Data Field.
For a guy who is likely to begin the season at Low A, Tebow is getting a lot of attention at spring training, where he’s been working out with the minor leaguers at the Mets’ Port St. Lucie camp. But he does have a huge following, and the Mets will be taking advantage of that appeal by playing Tebow today and Friday:
“I don’t think he’s going to make our team … but I think it’s great for our organization, it’s great for our fans. He’s a pretty famous guy,” Terry Collins said. “I am going to DH him Wednesday, so he gets in the lineup. I need players anyway and I want him to get some at bats. So he’ll DH on Wednesday.”
Tebow was not made available to comment on his upcoming “call-up,” and team officials and security prevented reporters from talking to him Monday.
It seems like the Mets missed out on a great opportunity to sell some additional ducats, given all the interest in Tebow. Tomorrow, however, the Red Sox are in Port St. Lucie, bring with arguably the most passionate — and most mobile — fan base in all of spring training. The game was already close to being sold out, and Mets officials admit they’re not seeing any uptick in ticket sales:
Tebow’s popularity in Florida, with Gator fans and those he has reached with his broadcasting, charity and religious work, has not had an effect the Mets ticket office — yet.
A team source said that they had seen no real bump in ticket sales since the Mets confirmed that he would making his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday. The split squad game at First Data Field against the Red Sox was already expecting a big crowd with just some general admission and standing room only tickets available when it was announced.
Friday’s game against the Astros has more tickets available.
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