VIA TBT: Tim Tebow and Seth Bosch had never met until July 29 at Charlotte Sports Park, where Tebow, playing minor-league baseball for the St. Lucie Mets, was going against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Tebow and his team will be in Tampa and Clearwater for eight games beginning Thursday night.
But back to that brief encounter on July 29, one that turned into something special, all of it captured on video by Seth's mother, Ileanna.
Tebow, 29, was taking practice swings in the on-deck circle, waiting to hit in the top of the seventh inning. Seth, who was 9 at the time (he turned 10 on Aug. 6), was at the game with his parents and his younger sister.
And he wanted to meet Tebow.
Seth, who has high-functioning autism, also suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that produces tumors on the nerve tissue. He has a tumor behind his right eye. He has a hard time playing sports.
But he made his way down from the seats his parents had behind home plate, over to the backstop netting near the Mets' on-deck circle. There was a conference on the Stone Crabs pitching mound. A brief delay. That's when Seth made his move. He began waving to Tebow to come over.
And Tebow came over.
Tebow and Seth shook hands through the netting.
Then play was back in. Tebow went to the plate.
And hit a three-run homer.
You can't make this stuff up.
"When Seth came back to his seat, he was crying," Ileanna Bosch said. "And then Tim hit the homer. I started crying, too. How does that happen? I think God brought Seth and Tim together."