James Tibbs III powers Oklahoma City with 10 homers in 23 games

James Tibbs III has been too loud to ignore in Oklahoma City. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter reached 10 home runs in his first 23 games for the Comets, becoming the first MiLB player to get to double digits this season and putting himself on a pace that borders on absurd: 65 homers over a full year.

The latest reminder came in a 9-7 win over Tacoma on April 23, when Tibbs drove a three-run homer in the third inning for Oklahoma City. That swing fit the opening stretch of his season, not just because it added to his power total, but because it extended a run that has turned him into one of the most discussed prospects in the game. Through the Comets’ 12-11 start, he had 23 runs, 27 hits and 14 walks, along with a .293 average, .389 on-base percentage and 1.106 OPS.

The question around Tibbs is not whether he is producing. It is whether this is a true breakout or a power surge amplified by the Pacific Coast League. His early damage included five home runs in six games from March 30 through April 5, all solo shots, a stretch that earned him PCL Player of the Week honors on April 7. He hit three home runs against Las Vegas on April 4, then followed with his eighth homer on April 13 and a 439-foot blast on April 16. The raw power has been undeniable; the context, at a level known for helping hitters, keeps the evaluation honest.

Tibbs has already lived through more organizational movement than most players see in several years. Drafted 13th overall by the San Francisco Giants out of Florida State in 2024, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the June 15, 2025 Rafael Devers deal, then went to the Dodgers on July 31, 2025 in the Dustin May trade. In August, he told MLB.com that the whirlwind was stressful and mentally difficult, saying, "I will say it's been very stressful," and describing 2025 as "probably the hardest year" of his life from a baseball perspective.

Now the Dodgers have a player whose production is forcing the timetable. Tibbs, listed by MiLB at 5-foot-11 and 201 pounds, was born in Atlanta on Oct. 1, 2002, and has handled each stop better than the last. Oklahoma City’s five straight home wins have helped the environment, but Tibbs has been the driver, and the numbers say the bat is already knocking on the next door.