Tim Tebow will try to help this team make the World Baseball Classic for the first time

Former Florida quarterback turned baseball player Tim Tebow has decided to play for the Philippines in the upcoming World Baseball Classic qualifiers, officials announced Wednesday.

The New York Mets outfield prospect was born in Manila, Philippines, during his parents’ mission trip and lived there until the age of 3.

Tebow is entering his fourth year as member of the Mets organization. In his first three seasons, he batted .239 with 18 homers and 85 walks but also 327 strikeouts. He hit his first homer of spring training in Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

The 32-year-old Tebow has yet to experience the same success at the professional level that he did in college. At Florida, he won a national championship, a Heisman Trophy and was responsible for the most touchdowns in SEC history since 1956. His NFL career was relatively short, starting 16 games across three seasons with just two playoff appearances.

Tebow will attempt to lead Team Philippines to its first World Baseball Classic tournament appearance in the country’s history. The WBC expanded to 20 teams for 2021 competition, of which 16 will receive automatic bids.

To make the tournament, Tebow and Team Philippines will have to do well in WBC qualifiers on March 13-25 in Tucson, Arizona. The team has gone 1-4 during its previous two stints in the qualifiers.

Only three countries — Japan, Dominican Republic and the United States — have won the tournament since play began in 2006. The United States is the reigning WBC champion.