Tebow's No. 15 jersey already among Mets' top sellers

Tim Tebow will stick to his football roots as he begins his journey as a baseball player, and fans seem to be buying into it.

The 29-year-old will don his old football number, 15 - which he wore during his college career with the Florida Gators and professionally with the New York Jets - in his instructional league debut for the New York Mets on Monday.

Tebow merchandise is already generating interest from fans, as his No. 15 is reportedly the Mets' third-highest selling jersey behind ace Noah Syndergaard and the custom name option.

Typically, teams aren't allowed to use a player's image or name until they're on the 40-man big-league roster, but sources tell ESPN's Darren Rovell that Tebow signed a deal with official jersey provider Majestic Athletic that allows the club to sell merchandise bearing his likeness before he makes the majors.

Tebow will play in five minor-league games over the next three weeks, competing against 57 other players as he hopes to make the successful transition from NFL quarterback to professional baseball player. He will be excused from Friday's and Saturday's tryouts as he continues his job as a college football analyst with the SEC Network.

The former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and two-time national champion was signed to a $100,000 minor-league contract on Sept. 8 after holding open tryouts in front of scouts from nearly every team.