James Tibbs III: A Dodgers Prospect Proving His Commitment Amidst Multiple Trades
PHOENIX — Outfielder James Tibbs III, selected 13th overall in the 2024 MLB draft, had aspirations of wearing a San Francisco Giants uniform at Oracle Park for years to come. However, just a year and a half later, he finds himself playing for one of the Giants’ biggest rivals and has already gone through three teams in his fledgling career.
Tibbs was traded to the Boston Red Sox last June as part of a deal that included Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Jose Bello in exchange for three-time All-Star Rafael Devers. A month and a half later, his career took another turn when the Red Sox traded him along with Zach Ehrhard to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Dustin May.
Jim Callis, a prospect analyst for MLB Pipeline with over 30 years of experience covering the draft, noted the unusual nature of Tibbs’s situation. “Tibbs is the only player I can think of who was taken in the top half of the first round and then traded twice during his first full pro season,” Callis remarked. He expressed confidence in Tibbs’s upward trajectory since joining the Dodgers, stating, “I bet we see more consistency out of him when he’s not bouncing between organizations in 2026.”
Indeed, Tibbs appears to have found his footing with the Dodgers. In just 36 games within the organization, he amassed seven home runs, 32 RBIs, and achieved a slash line of .269/.407/.900 while at double-A Tulsa. During his first spring training with the Dodgers, he impressed coaches and fans alike, hitting two home runs and batting .281 over 15 games, resulting in a .351 on-base percentage and a .914 OPS.
While he is unlikely to be included on the Dodgers’ major league roster at the start of the season, manager Dave Roberts sees great potential in him. “I like James Tibbs,” Roberts said. “He loves baseball, he is obsessed with getting better at the game, and he just fits who I am as a baseball coach.”
The swift succession of trades challenged Tibbs but also taught him valuable lessons in resilience and self-discovery. “Honestly, I might be one of the first first-round draft picks to be traded twice in their first year,” he reflected. “It was hard and mentally draining. I felt like I got punched in the face a bunch of times… I had to learn how to get back up.”
Joining the Dodgers has allowed Tibbs to reconnect with the form he displayed at Florida State, where he hit 28 home runs during his junior year and was named ACC Player of the Year. “The Dodgers just want me to be myself,” Tibbs said. “They believe in what I did in college and want me to get that back… It’s been a lot easier to go out and play with the encouragement and belief they’ve shown in me."
Looking forward, Tibbs aims to solidify his position within the organization and continue developing his skills as he fulfills his considerable potential.
