New York Mets prospect Tim Tebow homered on the first pitch he saw Wednesday in his instructional league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals club.

Tebow hit a high fastball in the bottom of the first inning over the left-field fence off Cardinals prospect John Kilichowski, a left-hander who pitched for Vanderbilt University and two minor-league affiliates for the Cardinals this year.

Tebow finished 1-for-6 at the plate. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner also grounded into a double play, grounded out to short and flew out to centre and left field.

He hit a slow roller to third base in his fifth at-bat in the fifth inning, nearly beating out the throw. The Mets face the Miami Marlins instructional team on Thursday.