Tim Tebow's Hitting Coach Says I Told Ya HE'S FOR REAL!!

Proud day for Tim Tebow's hitting coach -- ex-MLB player Chad Moeller -- who tells us Tim's 1st at-bat home run sends a strong message to the baseball world that he's the REAL DEAL.

Moeller worked with Tebow for months before he signed a minor league deal with the NY Mets -- and says he wasn't surprised that Tim opened his baseball career with jack to left center.

Moeller knows that instructional league ball ain't exactly the big leagues ... but the home run will add to Tim's confidence ... and that's incredibly important as he moves forward.