SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow faces a major step up in competition on Tuesday in his pursuit of a baseball career.
Tebow, after playing three games in the fall instructional league in Florida, is set to bat seventh and start in left field for the Scottsdale Scorpions at 3:35 p.m. ET at Camelback Ranch in his Arizona Fall League debut.
The league is for top prospects on the brink of a major league career and a handful of players who already have debuted in the big leagues, including teammates Greg Bird of the Yankees and Gavin Cecchini of the Mets.
Tebow signed a minor league deal with the Mets for $100,000 last month.
"You're talking about a guy who has won a Heisman Trophy but also been cut four times. I think he knows what the challenge is," said Scottsdale manager Tom Goodwin, who also is the first-base coach for the Mets. "I think he's up for the challenge. I'm definitely looking forward to putting him out there. It's a huge jump for him, but I don't think it's anything he can't handle. I know he's looking forward to it. And I think a lot of people out there are looking forward to seeing what he has and what he can do."
As Tebow said, "I think it will give me a good idea where I'm at."
Tebow homered on his first pitch in the instructional league. It was the first pitch he had faced in a game since his junior year of high school. He ultimately hit .286 (4-for-14) with two RBIs and two walks in three games.
In his Arizona Fall League debut, Tebow is due to face Washington Nationals right-handed prospect Austin Voth. Voth, a University of Washington product, went 7-9 with a 3.15 ERA in 27 appearances (25 starts) at Triple-A Syracuse this past season.
"So much of the pressure is taken away because I get to go out here and pursue something that I love, that I'm passionate about," Tebow said. "I've always been a believer that perfect love casts out all fear. So when you're scared about something, remember why you're doing something, why you love it. And have that mindset and approach.
"Why is failure the worst thing? I know sometimes it gets talked about that it is. But, in my opinion, regret is the worst thing, followed by not trying. And a lot of times, those go hand in hand. So, for me, when I do something, I want to go all-out for it. I can look back in 20 years and if I wasn't good enough, I wasn't good enough."
Tebow will continue with his SEC Network and ESPN football broadcasting responsibilities, so he will miss Friday and Saturday games. The Arizona Fall League is dark on Sundays. So Goodwin will have Tebow play as many games as the ex-quarterback's body allows midweek.
Tebow has the Alabama-Tennessee game this weekend in Knoxville, and he suggested there is no awkwardness with leaving new teammates.
"They totally understand it," Tebow said. "And it's also an obligation for me. For me, when I give my word about something, I want to fulfill it."
There is considerable buzz for Tebow's participation in the Arizona Fall League. The Scorpions averaged 504 spectators per home game last season at Scottsdale Stadium. The stadium can accommodate 9,700 fans, including lawn seating. The team expects a serious attendance bump, like when NBA star Michael Jordan played for the club in 1994 and league attendance for the season nearly tripled, to more than 100,000.
Jordan hit .252 (31-for-123) with 34 strikeouts in the Arizona Fall League. Of course, Jordan already had played a full season at Double-A Birmingham. Tebow, on the other hand, essentially has not played baseball since high school, except for a few weeks of training at the Mets' complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida. That Arizona Fall League tune-up was cut short a few days by Hurricane Matthew.
"Jordan's someone that was extremely talented -- everything he did," Tebow said. "I think what you hear most about him on the baseball field was his effort and what a good teammate he was. That's something I obviously want to bring, as well."
Tebow readily acknowledged competing in the Arizona Fall League will be a "great challenge."
"I think it will be awesome," he said. "I think it will not only will be a challenge as far as competing, but also, I think it will be blessing as far as learning from a lot of guys that are doing it at a high level -- a lot of them getting ready to be at the highest level. So that's great.
"It's a great opportunity for me. I'm thankful and also looking forward to it."