Atlanta Braves Interested in Tim Tebow ‘as a Baseball Player, Not as a Gate Attraction’

A Major League Baseball team in the heart of the Southeastern Conference seeks to sign Tim Tebow.

The Atlanta Braves admit “multiple” conversations with Tebow’s representatives. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution describes Tebow as drawing “serious interest” from the Braves, with the Colorado Rockies also giving the former Heisman Trophy-winner a long look.

Tebow showcased his skills before scouts from all but two major-league teams last week on the campus of the University of Southern California. The former quarterback hit eight balls over the fence, displayed above-average speed, and caught every ball hit to him, but, ironically, exhibited a below-average throwing arm.

The former Denver Broncos and New York Jets QB figures to play left field or possibly first base. He last played competitive baseball as a high school junior more than a decade ago. He looks to play instructional ball and in a winter league before joining an organization in single- or double-A next season.

“We are interested in Tim because of his potential as a baseball player, not as a gate attraction,” Braves general manager John Coppolella explained on Sunday. “We have spoken with his representatives multiple times and all parties involved want this to be a pure baseball thing on every level.”

The Braves enjoyed some luck with football players in the past. Brian Jordan hit .282 over 15 MLB seasons, including three with the Braves, after hitting wide receivers as a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons. Deion Sanders put together a Hall of Fame football career with multiple teams at the same time he competed in MLB for parts of nine seasons. He played in 292 games for the Braves. Four Boston Braves played in the NFL during the football league’s first decade.