| |
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, but switches to a
toe tap with two strikes. Quick hands and solid bat speed.
Patient approach; 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. Potential average hit tool.
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:
Fringe-average speed. Not a major part of his game, but has
solid instincts.
Field: Right now
profiles best in the corner outfield, but started playing some
first base again after the trade from San Francisco for the
first time since 2023. Likely best suited for left field given
the complexities of playing right field at Fenway Park. Prior to
trade had only played right field in pro ball, but did play left
and first base in college. |
|
Arm: Above-average arm strength. Solid enough
arm for either corner outfield spot.
Career
Notes: 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. Drafted by the Giants in the first
round of the 2024 draft immediately after the Red Sox selected
Braden Montgomery. Traded to the Red Sox along with Kyle
Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Jose Bello on exchange for Rafael
Devers in June 2025. Traded from the Giants’ High-A affiliate,
the Red Sox assigned him directly to Double-A Portland.
Summation: Potential bat-first platoon
outfielder. Ceiling of an above-average regular. Lacks a
standout tool, but could get to average hit and above-average
power tools. Checks a lot of boxes the Red Sox look for in
hitting prospects with quality swing decisions and the ability
to hit the ball hard consistently and drive it to the pull-side
in the air. Needs to show more consistency against off-speed and
contact ability against velocity to reach his potential as there
will always be a lot of pressure on his bat.
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) |
|
