Tebow to make spring debut for Mets on Wednesday

Tim Tebow's first taste of major-league pitching will be against the reigning American League Cy Young winner.

Tebow will be in the New York Mets' lineup as the club's designated hitter on Wednesday against Rick Porcello and the Boston Red Sox.

The former Heisman Trophy winner arrived in Mets camp last week and will get some reps with the big-league club as 14 players have departed for the World Baseball Classic.

Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters that Tebow might see some time in the outfield on Friday against the Atlanta Braves.

Tebow, who agreed to a minor-league deal with the Mets last summer, hit .194 with 20 strikeouts in 64 at-bats during the Arizona Fall League. While the 29-year-old's skills might not be at the major-league level, Collins said last month that it will be a good experience for the team and the fans to have Tebow feature in some games.

"This game's about our fans," Collins said. "It will always be about our fans. And this guy, he's a special person. He's a tremendous athlete. He's got a huge name in the sports world. And he's in our organization trying to be a baseball player. I'm certainly not going to take anything away from that. I salute him for what he's trying to do. It's not going to be easy. It's going to be very difficult."