Nationals 2B Murphy on Tebow's batting: 'The power is real'

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) No less an authority on hitting than last season's runner-up for NL MVP thinks Tim Tebow has some ability with a bat - he just needs more work.

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy says Friday that he recently spent some time working on batting with Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback who is pursuing a baseball career. Tebow is expected to be in minor league camp with the New York Mets next month.

Murphy says he and Tebow live about 15 houses apart in Jacksonville but had never met.

As for Tebow's baseball skills, Murphy says: ''I think that the power is real. What he needs is at-bats.''