Tim Tebow brings the buzz to Mets camp Monday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – When spring training workouts become open to the public, the back fields here at the New York Mets spring training complex are flooded with jerseys and shirseys (shirts that copy jerseys).

There are plenty of fans wearing apparel of the stars such as Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey, and you’ll even encounter random ones like an Omar Quintanilla shirsey one fan wore recently.

One jersey you probably have not seen, though, is that of Tim Tebow. With Tebow not in camp, there has not been palpable excitement for the former Jets quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner.

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That should change Monday as Tebow will work out and hold a news conference at 11 a.m. at the complex. Tebow is on a minor league deal and will be in minors camp, but there are plans to have him play in Grapefruit League games in what will surely be must-see TV games.

“I think when they tell me that Tim has some at-bats and he’s comfortable at the plate and comfortable with what he’s doing, I’ll get him over here,” Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Tebow’s arrival may be seen as a distraction, but Collins downplayed it due to the team’s strong veteran presence. It also helps that Tebow will not be in majors camp, and minors camp is not as visible.

Tebow may prove to be nothing more than hype as he attempts to develop a baseball career, but there will definitely be fan interest in seeing him play during camp. Collins acknowledged that giving the fans something they would like to see is part of the decision to have Tebow play in Grapefruit League games.

“This game is about our fans,” Collins said late Sunday afternoon. “It will always be about the fans and this guy is a special person. He’s a tremendous athlete, has a huge name in the sports world. He’s in our organization trying to be a baseball player and I’m not trying to take anything away from that. I salute him for what he’s trying to do. It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be very difficult.”

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