HOUSTON — As part of his pursuit of becoming a future big-league Met, Tim Tebow has turned to a former Met.
Tebow has been training this winter with former Mets and current Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy in Florida in preparation for spring training. Tebow said the two are “next-door neighbors” in Jacksonville, Fla., and Murphy has told him a lot about the Mets and helped him improve.
“It’s not that we talk that much about the Mets organization, although they have been great to both of us,” Tebow told The Post at the Super Bowl. “It’s just about the pursuit of baseball, the ins and outs. He is a total analyst of the game and works like crazy. For us, it’s been going over the little things over and over and over again. Talking pitches, out of the hand, how we’re picking stuff up. That’s what Daniel does that’s such a different level.”
Tebow, the former Jets quarterback, is at the Super Bowl promoting Avocados of Mexico. He said he eats four avocados every day. He made the rounds on radio row Friday and stopped for a few minutes to chat with The Post.
Tebow is days away from heading to Port St. Lucie to begin spring training. Tebow was not invited to major-league camp, but will be with the minor leaguers.
“For me, I don’t always know what to expect. It’s kind of new. I’m really excited for it,” Tebow said.
After playing in the Instructional and Arizona Fall Leagues, Tebow has spent the winter trying to further knock off the rust. He had not played baseball since high school, opting to pursue football at Florida and then in the NFL with the Broncos and Jets. He went to training camp with the Patriots and Eagles before turning his attention back to baseball last year.
“I’m just excited about it,” Tebow said. “I really am. Just the pursuit every day, the daily grind, it’s so different on your body. In football you’re preparing for 16 Sundays. Baseball, it’s every day. It’s so different. I feel like that’s something I can try to bring to the game – that joy every day and loving to play every day. It’s going to be really fun.”
Besides Murphy, Tebow said he has worked with former Yankees and Mets slugger Gary Sheffield and Mets hitting coach Kevin Long. Tebow has spent some time in Port St. Lucie already, as well as training in Scottsdale, Ariz., and at his Jacksonville home.
Tebow said he has really enjoyed getting to know Long and learning from him.
“He’s awesome,” Tebow said.