Tie game in the bottom of the ninth. It was every young ballplayer’s dream. Tim Tebow was leading off for the Syracuse Mets. He’d homered on his last two opening days. Why not this one, too?
But a lefty-lefty matchup led to a 94 mile per hour fastball in on the hands. Tebow’s two-strike swing was just a bit too long.
“They match up with him, lefties gave him a tough time,” Syracuse manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “… Overall I think they’re gonna try to pound him in, and he’s gotta make adjustments and stay short through the ball.”
Tebow finished his Triple-A debut 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and two groundouts as the Mets (0-1) lost, 6-3, in extra innings to the Pawtucket Red Sox (1-0). He caught two routine fly balls in left field, as well. A step-up in level meant a step-up in the opposing pitchers, and after one Thursday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium, it was a step Tebow didn’t look ready to take.
– Read the full recap of Opening Day in Syracuse at the Daily Orange
Tim Tebow takes the field for the first time as a @SyracuseMets left fielder@CNYcentral pic.twitter.com/RqPjWzLkD0
— Niko Tamurian (@NikoTamurian) April 4, 2019
The first pitch in Syracuse Mets history was just thrown! @hecsantiago53 is on the mound as the Mets face off against the Pawsox to start the season.#LetsGO #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/NpEGPAATNS
— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) April 4, 2019
Happy @SyracuseMets Opening Day! pic.twitter.com/NEFKMxxiVR
— Trish Kilgannon (@trishkilgannon) April 4, 2019
Tim Tebow with a nice ovation from the fans in his first at-bat.
Works a 3-0 count but then strikes out on a tip into the catcher's mitt.
Still scoreless with @SyracuseMets and Pawtucket @CNYcentral pic.twitter.com/vkajzXKVkf
— Niko Tamurian (@NikoTamurian) April 4, 2019
Tim Tebow struggles in Syracuse Mets’ season-opening loss, from @Wheyen3: https://t.co/FYpx3OU4t9 pic.twitter.com/nZHqjmIdTi
— Daily Orange Sports (@DOsports) April 5, 2019
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