Tim Tebow impressed David Aardsma

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The first time former big-league closer David Aardsma pitched to Tim Tebow in a practice session, Aardsma came away wowed by the way Tebow made adjustments to dipping sliders or hard heaters up and in.

The second time, which was Thursday at a high school field in Arizona, Tebow progressed further, showing such improvement just one week later that Aardsma found his competitive DNA firing.

“It actually really pissed me off,” Aardsma wrote in a text message.

Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy winner who is trying to build a baseball career at 29, even “took me deep” on Thursday, Aardsma said.

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Aardsma, the 34-year-old righty who pitched for Toronto’s Triple-A team this year and has nine seasons in the majors on his resume, admits he was “as skeptical as anybody” about Tebow the first time he threw to him.

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“When I walked away, as a pitcher, I was pretty impressed,” said Aardsma, who saved 69 games for Seattle from 2009-2010 and is aiming for a big-league return. “He needs to see a lot more pitching and understand what the pitcher is watching and seeing from him and adjusting. That’s not something you know until you’re in it.

“I’d get him to instructs (instructional league), work his butt and get him to play winter league. Get him on the field every day, facing different pitchers. I would not be surprised if he’s in Double-A next year. I’d put the talent there right now.”

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“After I threw to him, he took BP again and I shagged,” Aardsma said. “I got the bucket (to pick up balls) and Tim had run out to where I was and he said, ‘No, no, I got this.’ I was blown away.

“He doesn’t appear to me like riding a bus and grinding it out is anything he’d mind. He wants to grind it out.”

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