NEW YORK -- For the second straight spring, Tim Tebow will be in big league camp.
Tebow, who might have cracked the Majors last season had a right hand injury not required surgery in July, will again be a regular in the Major League clubhouse after batting .056 with 11 strikeouts in 19 plate appearances this past spring. He attributed those struggles partially to a sprained left ankle that affected him throughout Grapefruit League play, but that healed well enough for him to bat .273 with six home runs at Double-A Binghamton before breaking a bone in his right hand in July. 
Now fully recovered from that injury, Tebow is not a realistic threat to crack the Mets' Opening Day roster. Still, he is a real possibility to make the team later in the summer if he continues his success -- particularly if New York falls out of contention. The former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner has improved his performance every season since signing a Minor League contract with the Mets in 2016.
One of Tebow's most vocal backers, former Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, is gone from the organization. But Alderson's replacement, Brodie Van Wagenen, was Tebow's agent from 2016-18. Van Wagenen has already said Tebow is likely to begin this season at Triple-A Syracuse, just one step from the Majors.
Other non-roster invitations of note went to 20-year-old top prospect Andres Gimenez, second-ranked prospect Peter Alonso, and fourth- and fifth-ranked prospects David Peterson and Anthony Kay. In addition, veterans Rajai Davis, Gregor Blanco, Luis Avilan and Hector Santiago will be in camp on Minor League deals.