On the eve of his showcase for MLB teams Tuesday, Tim Tebow received his first legitimate contract offer to play professional baseball.
According to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan, the Aguilas del Zulia have offered Tebow a contract to play on their winter league team.
“He’s a great talent,” Aguilas general manager Luis Amaro told Yahoo Sports about Tebow. “He’s an athlete. He’s won the Heisman. He’s won two national championships. I know baseball is a hard game, but he’ll either adjust and show he’s ready to play pro ball or not. I think it’s low risk, high reward for Zulia.”
Why is it high reward for Zulia? Not only does Tebow have some potential as a power hitter, but also he is great name value and will generate tremendous buzz and interest. Perhaps Aguilas will attract bigger crowds. You know they will certainly receive more media coverage, and perhaps even see some of the former Heisman Trophy winner’s fans at games.
Aguilas has won the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League five times, so they are not even a joke of a team looking to do this as a publicity stunt, unlike the independent league team that offered the former QB a deal. Venezuelan teams can have nine non-Venezuelan players on their rosters. The early part of the winter season tends to feature more minor league players compared the mid and later part of the winter season when MLB players start trickling into the league.
There have been mixed feelings about Tebow pursuing pro ball with many saying he can’t make it, but at least one former MLB pitcher thinks highly of the former QB.
Tebow reportedly would have interest in playing winter ball.
