Tim Tebow, the former collegiate football superstar and National Football League starter with the Denver Broncos, will play for Team Philippines in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) qualifiers next month, a part of his stop in pursuing a career in professional baseball.
Born in the Philippines to American missionary parents, the 32-year-old Tebow won the Heisman Trophy while with the University of Florida in 2007, and after being waived by the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles early in the last decade, decided to give baseball a shot and is currently playing for the New York Mets organization in the minor leagues.
“I’ve just got such a heart for the Philippines,” Tebow, a left fielder, told the Major League Baseball (MLB) website. “I’ve just really had a love for the people for a long time. To be able to represent them will be really cool.”
His stint was made possible by WBC rules that allow players to play for countries they were born in. It was arranged by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (Paba) through the MLB.
Pepe Muñoz, the secretary general of Paba, said Tebow is a big addition even with baseball being only his second sport.
Muñoz said the Philippines is also tapping Fil-Japanese pitcher Yuki Takayama and Fil-Australian short stop Jared Cruz. The team flies to Tucson, Arizona, on March 18.