James Tibbs III Portland Sea Dogs Outfield - First Base

       
 
Age: 22
Born: October 1, 2002
Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
   
Drafted: 1st round, 2024 by SF
How Acquired: Acquired from San Francisco with Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Jose Bello for Rafael Devers (June 2025)
College: Florida St.
High School: Pope (GA)
ETA: Early 2027

Photo © Kelly O'Connor
Pronunciation: -
First Pro Contract: July 23, 2024 (SF)
Signing Scout: N/A
Signing Bonus: $4,747,500
Rule 5 Draft Eligible: December 2027
MLFA Eligible: November 2029
   
Pro Debut: August 8, 2024 (San Jose)
Added to 40-man: -
MLB Debut: -
Service Time (1/25): 0 days
Options Remaining: 3 (0 used)
Contract (2025): MiLB contract
   
Twitter: @JamesTibbsIII
Instagram: @jamestibbslll

 
 
 
 
 
     
  Scouting Report & Links      
         
  Physical Description: Medium frame. Well developed lower half. Minimal remaining projection.

Hit: Starts square and vertical with his hands high. Utilizes a leg kick timing device. Quick hands and solid bat speed. Patient approach and makes good swing decisions. Low chase rate and makes consistent contact in the zone. Sees a lot of pitches and will take a walk. Runs an above-average hard-hit rate. Better against fastballs than secondary offerings, but has shown the ability to make adjustments against off-speed and spin already. Whiff rates tick up against velocity. Groundball rate has been higher in pro ball than it was as an amateur and bears watching as he moves into the high minors. Has hit lefties well in a small sample in the low minors, but struggled at times against them as an amateur.

Power: Above-average raw power. Power plays best on pitches middle-in to the pull side, Produces solid exit velocities. Grooved swing with a slight uppercut lends itself to driving the ball with back spin.

Run: Below-average speed. Not a major part of his game.

Field: Corner outfield-only profile. Likely best suited for left field given the complexities of playing right field at Fenway Park. Has only played right field in pro ball, but did play left and first base in college.		   Arm: Average arm strength. Solid enough for corner outfield.

Career Notes: Drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2024 draft immediately after the Red Sox selected Braden Montgomery. Cut his strikeout rate throughout his college career and was seen as one of the best hitters in the college class during his draft year. Traded to the Red Sox along with Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Jose Bello on exchange for Rafael Devers in June 2025.

Summation: Potential bat-first platoon outfielder. Lacks a standout tool, but could get to average hit and power. Checks a lot of boxes the Red Sox look for in hitting prospects and they were reportedly interested in him in the 2024 draft. Hits the ball hard and makes good swing decisions, but could stand to show more consistency against off-speed and contact ability against velocity.

Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.

Links
 Trade Analysis: Initial scouting reports for James Tibbs and Jose Bello (6.16.25)
 Podcast Ep #367: Rafael Devers Trade Emergency Pod (6.16.25)		  
   
     
    Hitting Stats                                          
  year team lg level org age g ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb bb so sb cs avg obp slg ops
2022 Florida State ACC NCAA --- 19 56 170 37 51 13 0 10 32 94 25 64 1 1 0.300 0.411 0.553 0.964
  2023 Florida State ACC NCAA --- 20 54 195 61 66 14 1 17 43 133 48 49 5 0 0.338 0.471 0.682 1.153
  2024 Florida State ACC NCAA --- 21 62 235 71 88 17 1 28 94 191 54 31 7 1 0.374 0.497 0.813 1.310
  2024 San Jose Giants Cal A SF 21 9 41 9 17 4 0 0 2 21 1 11 0 0 0.415 0.429 0.512 0.941
  2024 Eugene Emeralds Nwst A+ SF 21 17 67 5 9 1 0 2 4 16 7 25 0 0 0.134 0.216 0.239 0.455
  2025 Eugene Emeralds Nwst A+ SF 22 57 207 41 51 10 1 12 32 99 42 45 3 1 0.246 0.379 0.478 0.857
2025 Portland Sea Dogs East AA Bos 22     stats                            
   
     
  Advanced Stats & Splits
   
     
  Awards   SoxProspects.com Awards  
  ACC Player of the Year (2024)
NCAA First Team All-American (202$)		   -  
   

   
     
 
 		  
     
 
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