American football player-turned baseball pro Tim Tebow is playing for the Philippines.
Tebow, who was born the Philippines while his parents were performing their duties as Baptist missionaries in Davao City, will play for the country in the 2021 World Baseball Classic qualifiers.
The qualifiers are slated next month in Tucson, Arizona.
Now married to Miss Universe 2017 and South African model Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, the Bible-preaching Tebow is a former Heisman Trophy winner in American football.
He has since shifted to baseball after retiring from American football in 2012.
Tebow is now playing for the minor league affiliate of the New York Mets.
The Philippines will start its campaign against Czech Republic on March 20.
Relaxed rules on eligibility in the WBC gave Tebow a chance to suit up for the Philippines.
Tebow was born in Makati City to parents Robert and Pamela Tebow.
In 1985, the family moved to the Philippines where they served as Baptist missionaries and built a ministry.
On August 14, 1987, Pamela Tebow gave birth to Tim before moving back to Florida when he was three years old.
The Tebow family had been in and out of the Philippines ever since, before Tim focused on his career in American football when he went to college.
Tebow, in a statement, said he was honored when the baseball federation invited him to play in the qualifiers.
“I’ve got such a heart for the Philippines. I’ve just really had a love for the people for a long time,” said Tebow.
While playing American pro football in the United States, Tebow devoted time for charity work in the Philippines.
It continues to this day. In 2014, his ministry opened a hospital in Davao City called the Tebow Cure Hospital.
Philippine Amateur Baseball Association president Chito Loyzaga said they are in the process of finalizing the roster for the competition.
