Tim Tebow takes small step forward at Arizona Fall League
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Tim Tebow is still looking for his first hit with the Scottsdale Scorpions. But on Wednesday night he reached base, drove in a run and got his jersey dirty in his second game in the Arizona Fall League.
Tebow, playing left field and batting seventh in the order, walked in the bottom of the second and got his first RBI in the fourth on a fielder’s choice.
Runners were at first and third when Tebow hit a grounder to the second baseman, who threw to the shortstop for the force as Tebow beat the relay throw to first and the runner scored from third.
Later in the inning, Tebow was thrown out on a feet-first slide at home plate on a fielder’s choice and fans cheered as he rose to his feet in a dirt-streaked uniform.
"Played hard today, ' 'Scorpions manager Tom Goodwin said of Tebow.
Although Tebow had little impact on the game’s outcome — the Scorpions lost to the Salt River Rafters 6-4 — he did appear to impact attendance. The announced crowd of 1,790 more than tripled last season’s average attendance of 500.
He was unavailable for comment after the game, but spent time signing autographs for dozens of fans who seem largely unconcerned about his on-field performance.
In seven plate appearances, Tebow has grounded out five times, struck out once and walked once.
Goodwin said he saw encouraging signs during Tebow's at-bats. But he also said former NFL quarterback is still getting out in front of pitches rather than waiting on them.
“There’s some balls that he’s still rolling over on and that’s still going to take some time to get that, where you’re staying back just a hair longer. “He'll be fine. He had a good last at-bat where got the bat head through. It seemed like he came through with some pop.''
In his league debut Tuesday, Tebow went 0-for-3 and ran into the outfield wall while chasing down a fly ball. On Wednesday, he he managed to avoid the outfield wall, catching a routine fly ball and fielding a single without incident.
That single was one that Goodwin felt should have been caught.
“It was probably more my fault than anything. I probably should’ve moved him in a little bit," Goodwin said. "It’ll be something we’ll work on."
But he went 0-for-3 at the plate and heads into the Scorpions’ game Thursday looking for the elusive first hit.
GALLERY: TIM TEBOW LAUNCHES BASEBALL CAREER
