MLB Draft Notebook: James Tibbs III continues climb up draft boards
Florida State outfielder quickly climbing draft boards due to offensive ability.
Saying that James Tibbs III is one of the best college hitters available in the upcoming draft is a bold statement, especially considering who is also available.
But when we are talking about the next tier of hitters beyond the top group, you might not find someone who has been gaining steam more than Tibbs, and for good reason.
The outfielder for the Florida State Seminoles has been one of the best hitters in the draft and is starting to throw his name into consideration for being selected in the top half of the first round this summer.
With 16 home runs, 31 extra-base hits, and 61 RBI, Tibbs has been a key offensive piece for a Florida State team ranked among the best in the country.
In two recent mock drafts, Baseball America and Future Star Series, Tibbs went 15th and 22nd overall, respectively.
FSS had him going to the Baltimore Orioles at 22 and had this to say about the outfield prospects, “Tibbs III is a pretty good value in this spot (22nd overall), considering some believe he’s a top-three college bat in the class.”
Considering who some of the college hitters are in the class, that’s pretty high remarks.
Tibbs has the track record and has shown the necessary steps forward regarding his development. He posted a .862 OPS with six home runs in 40 games during the Cape Cod League in 2023.
After playing primarily first base in 2023, he’s played exclusively in the outfield this year for the Seminoles. He’s also reduced the strikeouts, posting a 7.5% rate while walking more than twice that (15.6%).
One thing to always note about draft prospects is how they handle spin and off-speed pitches. When it comes to change-ups, Tibbs has the 14th-best whiff rate and a contact rate of 82.1%.
There are questions about where he will play defensively at the next level, as even if he sticks in the outfield, it will be in a corner. Baseball America has another way of looking at Tibbs and where they had him slotted in their recent mock draft (15th overall).
“Ultimately, hitting is the most important tool, and Tibbs has proven himself to be quite good in the batter’s box.”
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Bout time you got on board
They call me Mr. Tibbs!