Baseball can be a frustrating sport where failure is much more common than success. If a batter succeeds in just one-third of his plate appearances during his career, he will have a strong case to end up in Cooperstown.

Tim Tebow has not managed to do that.

In his first season with the New York Mets’ Single-A affiliate Columbia Fireflies, his first in professional baseball, Tebow has compiled a .222 batting average with 69 strikeouts through 63 games. Despite his struggles, the Mets announced their decision to promote the former Heisman Trophy winner.

Speaking with a group of reporters over the weekend, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson explained the puzzling move and attributed it to Tebow’s encouraging advanced metrics.

“It’s not like he’s tearing up the league, but at the same time, all the indications are positive in terms of various things we look at,” Alderson told reporters, according to a report by 247Sports. “Chase rates, exit velocity. The average isn’t there, but he’s improving.”

Although Tebow has struggled, he’s brought attention to minor league baseball in a way few others possibly could. Prior to his final game with the Fireflies, Tebow spoke with the media about his time in Columbia.

Playing in his first game with the St. Lucie Mets on Wednesday evening, Tebow recorded his first Florida State League hit in only his second at-bat. With his team trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Tebow hit a single back over the pitcher to lead off the inning.

Perhaps Tebow’s time in the Florida State League will go better than expected.