Tim Tebow signs minor-league deal with Mets

<p>Tim Tebow can officially call himself a professional baseball player. </p><p>The former football star turned TV analyst turned heads when <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/apparently-tim-tebow-wants-to-play-pro-baseball/" target="_blank">he announced</a> he'd be giving baseball a shot –– a sport he hadn't played since high school. </p><p>Tebow essentially held a <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/tim-tebow-holds-showcase-for-mlb-teams/" target="_blank">private audition</a> for MLB scouts at the end of August. The general consensus was he has incredible power and athleticism, but his throwing, batting and fielding all need work.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/alex-rodriguez-is-retiring-from-baseball/">Baseball's Most Controversial Player Will Be Hanging Up His Cleats</a></b></p><p>Enter the New York Mets. The <a href="https://twitter.com/Mets" target="_blank">organization announced</a> Thursday it'd signed Tebow as an outfielder and that he'll participate in its Instructional League. </p><p>That means Tebow's pretty far away from playing at Citi Field. He's basically entering a crash course fall season, where raw talent is molded through one-on-one coaching.</p><p>The season will last for a couple weeks, and if Tebow shows improvement, he'll likely get assigned to a minor league team. </p><p>So, not much of a gamble for the Mets, but it's still surprising, considering the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/stop-laughing-credit-mets-open-mind-tim-tebow-article-1.2783014" target="_blank">team's general manager</a> previously laughed at reporters asking if he'd sign Tebow. </p><p>Tebow will report to the Mets' complex in Florida on <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/tim-tebow-florida-instructional-league-article-1.2783025" target="_blank">Sept. 18</a>. </p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/tiger-woods-plans-his-return-to-the-pga/">Tiger Woods Is Coming Back To The PGA</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/rio-2016-paralympic-games-probably-won-t-be-sold-out/">Don't Expect Sold-Out Crowds At The Rio Paralympics</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/us-women-s-soccer-star-refuses-to-stand-for-national-anthem/">US Women's Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe Protests The National Anthem</a></li></ul>