FILE - In April 6, 2017, file photo, Columbia Fireflies outfielder Tim Tebow smiles during a Class A minor league baseball game against the Augusta GreenJackets in Columbia, S.C. Tebow continues to grind in the minor league as he pursues his quest to play pro baseball at the highest level. After two months with the New York Mets Class A affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina, the former Heisman Trophy winners performance has been inconsistent and there remains no timetable for how long he will remain with the Fireflies.(AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)
Tim Tebow is moving up -- not to the big time -- but to the state where he performed his greatest heroics.
Despite a .222 batting average, the New York Mets are promoting the former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida and NFL No. 1 draft pick of the Denver Broncos.
Tebow is leaving the Columbia Fireflies and will rise to Class A St. Lucie, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson announced Sunday.
In addition to his average, Tebow hasthree homers and 23 RBI in 63 games.
"It's not like he's tearing up the league, but at the same time all of the indications are positive in terms of various things we look at -- chase rates and exit velocity," Alderson said. "The bottom line is the average isn't there, but he's improving."
Tebow, 29, won the Heisman Trophy and led the Gators to two national championships as a college star.
His NFL career was unremarkable, leading him to try baseball.
Gallery:12 MLB All-Stars whose Single-A numbers looked a lot like Tim Tebow's
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