Philippines to have Tim Tebow in World Baseball Classic Qualifying

Tim Tebow (Wikimedia Commons)

The fascinating mystique of Tim Tebow is continuing. The former Denver Broncos and University of Florida Gators quarterback turned veteran minor league baseball prospect has decided to play for his native Philippines at the 2020 World Baseball Classic qualifier according to Scott Boeck of USA Today.

Tebow, who is now 32 years of age, is currently an outfielder for the Syracuse Mets in the International League. While playing this past season in Triple A, Tebow only batted .163 with four home runs and 19 runs batted in during 77 games.

The Philippines are currently in a 12 team qualifying tournament which will take place in March in Tucson, Arizona. The top four teams in the tournament qualify for the 2021 World Baseball Classic. In addition to the Philippines, the other 11 teams participating are South Africa, France, Germany, Nicaragua, Brazil, Pakistan, Great Britain, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Panama and Spain.

All 16 teams that participated at the 2017 World Baseball Classic already qualified. They are Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, United States and Venezuela.

Tebow was the 2007 Heisman Trophy Winner as the best college football player in the United States. The following season he guided the University of Florida Gators to their second Bowl Championship Series title in three years. The Gators defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 from Miami. Tebow also was part of the Gators team that won the BCS Championship title from the 2006 season. The Gators defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14 thanks to a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown by Tebow.

Following his remarkable NCAA career, Tebow quarterbacked the Denver Broncos in 2010 and 2011. He is most remembered for an 80 yard touchdown pass he threw to Demaryius Thomas in overtime, in a 29-23 Broncos win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2012. Tebow only played one more NFL season, and that was with the New York Jets in 2012. Tebow first started playing professional baseball in 2016, and is currently part of the New York Mets organization.