D-backs’ La Russa: Tebow ‘a really good athlete that ain’t gonna make it’
Aug 31, 2016, 10:35 AM | Updated: 2:17 pm
Former NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow fields a ball for baseball scouts and the media during a showcase on the campus of the University of Southern California, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 in Los Angeles. The Heisman Trophy winner works out for a big gathering of scouts on USC's campus in an attempt to start a career in a sport he hasn't played regularly since high school. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Tuesday afternoon, former NFL QB Tim Tebow held a workout in front of Major League Baseball scouts, hoping to convince them that the one-time Heisman Trophy winner had a future in a different sport.
According to reports, just two teams — the Oakland A’s and Chicago Cubs — did not attend, meaning the Arizona Diamondbacks were one of the organizations that was represented at the affair.
According to D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa, his team took a look because it couldn’t hurt not to.
“I can’t speak for the A’s and Cubs, but I know the easy answer is you want to cross every T and dot every I,” he told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday. “You never, ever, ever know.”
La Russa pointed to Drew Muren, who is pitching for Triple-A Reno now and in 36 games with the Aces, Visalia Rawhide and Kane County Cougars has posted a 4.46 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. A former outfielder, he is finding success on the mound.
“You never want to miss an opportunity,” he said.
Even at the Major League level, outfielder David Peralta began his professional career as a pitcher, so the idea that one can change positions is not necessarily all that foreign.
But with regards to the 29-year-old Tebow, who played baseball in high school but from there focused on football, La Russa said there isn’t much to work with.
“We saw a really good athlete that ain’t gonna make it,” he said.
As reported by USA Today, Tebow displayed good power but struggled with real-live pitching. He ran the 60-yard dash in a range of 6.65 to 6.82 seconds.
