Ruben Amaro's Brother Offered Tim Tebow a Baseball Contract Because it Must Run in the Blood
Tim Tebow hits the baseball field later today to show off his talents to 20+ Major League clubs. The whole thing is already a spectacle. Dan Haren turning down throwing to him became a story.
Oh and memo to my agent, @bvanwagenen: Pitching to Tim Tebow tomorrow DOES NOT count as getting me a real job offer.
— dan haren (@ithrow88) August 29, 2016
Yesterday, Larry Bowa went off on the whole thing – even though his employer will be in attendance – saying that while Tebow is an exceptional athlete, “this is a hard game and there are a lot of good athletes in pro ball that never get to the big leagues. I don’t think it can happen. There are guys 28 or 29 that are getting released every day. How can you take 10 years off and all of the sudden be facing guys throwing 95, guys throwing sliders.” But Tebow’s already got an offer from an unlikely yet wholly expected source.
The goal is big league ball, but Venezuelan Professional Baseball League club Aguilas del Zulia has offered Tebow a contract to play winter ball. The GM of Aguilas del Zulia said:
“He’s a great talent. He’s an athlete. He’s won the Heisman. He’s won two national championships. I know baseball is a hard game, but he’ll either adjust and show he’s ready to play pro ball or not. I think it’s low risk, high reward for Zulia.”
And just who is this guy? He’s Luis Amaro, brother to former Phillies GM, current Red Sox first base coach, and future pitch counter (if his career trajectory flows the way it’s going), Ruben Amaro Jr. It must run in the blood. Amaro is right though. It’s low-risk, high-reward. Especially if that award is attention and attendance for the Winter League in a country statistically more Christian than Ireland. Can’t hurt.