James Tibbs Stats & Scouting Report

AB	41
AVG	.415
OBP	.429
SLG	.512
HR	0

Full name James Eugene Tibbs
Born 10/01/2002 in Atlanta, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Florida State
Drafted in the 1st round (13th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2024 (signed for $4,747,500).

View Draft Report

School: Florida State
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 40. Field: 30. Arm: 50.

Tibbs led Florida State in slugging as a freshman in 2022 and signaled to the program the offensive force he would be for the next three years. A short and stocky 6-foot, 204-pound lefthanded hitter, Tibbs did nothing but hit in each of his three seasons with the Seminoles—as well as during a summer in the Cape Cod League in 2023. Heading into the College World Series this year, he was a career .342/.465/.697 hitter who had hit a career-best 28 homers in 2024. Tibbs began his career as a slugging bat with significant swing-and-miss questions who struck out 31.7% of the time in 2022. He ended it with a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in a down draft class with just a 10.5% strikeout rate in 2024. He has a clean lefty swing and an ability to use the entire field with solid impact, and while he does swing and miss a bit versus secondaries, he generally makes sound swing decisions and has produced at a high clip against velocity of 92 mph and faster. Tibbs has solid but unspectacular raw power, though his six home runs in 40 games in the Cape Cod League should create confidence in his ability to do damage with wood in pro ball. He’s a corner profile through and through, whether that’s in an outfield corner or at first base, and is expected to be a below-average defender in either spot. Despite a bat-only profile, Tibbs has hit enough to warrant first-round selection.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Tibbs’ career at Florida State started quickly and loudly in 2022, when he swatted 10 home runs as a freshman. He added 17 more in his sophomore year and then an Atlantic Coast Conference-best 28 in his draft season, when he was a first-team All-American. All told, he finished his time in Tallahassee with 55 doubles in 176 games. In between, he posted a solid summer hitting with wood in the Cape Cod League, batting .303/.390/.472 with six home runs in 40 games in 2023. Tibbs’ outstanding track record was enough for the Giants to draft him 13th overall in 2024 and sign him for $4,747,500. Tibbs split his pro debut between Low-A San Jose and High-A Eugene, finishing with 26 games in total. He hit the first two pro home runs of his career during his 17 games in the Northwest League.

Scouting Report: More important than the total production, Tibbs also slashed his strikeout rate from 31.7% as a freshman to 10.5% as a junior. In doing so, he solidified himself as one of the best pure hitters available in the 2024 draft. The Giants believe in Tibbs’ bat-to-ball skills, as well as his abilities to pick up spin and quickly separate balls from strikes. Now, he needs to learn when to pick his spots to unleash his best swings. Tibbs is a fringe-average runner now but might slow down as he gets older. Defensively, he has a ceiling as a fringy corner outfielder but will likely settle in as below-average. Tibbs has the above-average arm strength that would fit nicely in right field.

The Future: Tibbs scuffled somewhat upon reaching High-A after a long season between FSU and the minor leagues. After an offseason to recover, he will embark on his first full pro season and will try to realize his ceiling as a right fielder with a solid blend of hitting ability and power.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 55

Draft Prospects

School: Florida State Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 40. Field: 30. Arm: 50.

Tibbs led Florida State in slugging as a freshman in 2022 and signaled to the program the offensive force he would be for the next three years. A short and stocky 6-foot, 204-pound lefthanded hitter, Tibbs did nothing but hit in each of his three seasons with the Seminoles—as well as during a summer in the Cape Cod League in 2023. Heading into the College World Series this year, he was a career .342/.465/.697 hitter who had hit a career-best 28 homers in 2024. Tibbs began his career as a slugging bat with significant swing-and-miss questions who struck out 31.7% of the time in 2022. He ended it with a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in a down draft class with just a 10.5% strikeout rate in 2024. He has a clean lefty swing and an ability to use the entire field with solid impact, and while he does swing and miss a bit versus secondaries, he generally makes sound swing decisions and has produced at a high clip against velocity of 92 mph and faster. Tibbs has solid but unspectacular raw power, though his six home runs in 40 games in the Cape Cod League should create confidence in his ability to do damage with wood in pro ball. He’s a corner profile through and through, whether that’s in an outfield corner or at first base, and is expected to be a below-average defender in either spot. Despite a bat-only profile, Tibbs has hit enough to warrant first-round selection.