Looking to add a powerful bat to their lineup, the San Francisco Giants selected outfielder James Tibbs III from Florida State with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday night.
Tibbs, who was named the ACC Player of the Year and a first-team Academic All-American this season, spearheaded the Seminoles’ 49-17 record and trip to the 2024 College World Series. His selection at No. 13 makes him the highest Seminole drafted since Buster Posey (who was also drafted by the Giants, at No. 5 overall in 2008, and played his entire career there).
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Congratulations to the newest member of the #SFGiants organization, @JamesTibbsIII pic.twitter.com/P8M9fGoMyT
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 15, 2024
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 📞@JamesTibbsIII | #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/MKlWjHM9bu
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) July 15, 2024
Tibbs, 21, is widely regarded as one of the most MLB-ready position players to be drafted in the first round. Hopes are high that his power and plate discipline will translate to professional baseball, and he’ll end up in the majors sooner rather than later.
In his three years in Tallahassee, Tibbs posted 208 hits in 616 at-bats, good for a .338 batting average, 55 home runs and 170 RBIs. Last season, however, he truly vaulted himself into the discussion as one of the best players in college baseball. He batted .363 with 91 hits and 28 homers, and he drew an impressive 58 walks while only striking out 37 times.
In his final game at Dick Howser Stadium, Florida State’s home field, Tibbs launched three homers to help the Seminoles defeat UConn in their Super Regional matchup and advance to the College World Series.
Once in Omaha, Tibbs and Florida State were one of the last four teams standing before being eliminated by eventual national-champion Tennessee.
Yet even after falling short of reaching his goal of being a college baseball national champion, Tibbs took the opportunity at his final collegiate postgame press conference to talk about all the ways his Father in Heaven has been good to him.
“Oftentimes we see people give glory to God in the good times, but I’m going to give glory to God in the tough times, too,” Tibbs said. “He’s blessed me with the opportunity to be at the best university in the country, and He’s blessed me with the opportunity to play with a bunch of great guys and a great coach, one that I believe in and one that I believe will get it done.
“In three years, this program has seen quite the turn. It’s been hard. It’s been fun and it’s been everything in between. I’ll never be able to thank Coach (Link Jarrett), the coaching staff, and all the people that have made this possible enough for believing in me and for allowing me to be a part of it. The verse I’ve been preaching all year is Proverbs 16:9 (ESV). And it says, ‘A man plans his path, but the Lord establishes his steps.’ This isn’t quite how I thought it would go. But I’m so blessed to be a part of this team and this year.”
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Tibbs describes himself as a “Believer” on both his Instagram and X accounts, and his X banner photo reads, “faith over fear.” He’s been known to post quotations of Bible verses and talk about his faith in God on social media as well.
God is good… Noles are Omaha bound! Thank you to everyone who has supported us this whole year! See y’all in Omaha!!!! Let’s gooooo
— James Tibbs (@JamesTibbsIII) June 8, 2024
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This past season, Tibbs also wore an arm band displaying “2 Corinthians 12:9,” a Bible verse which reads, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Tibbs knows God has been altogether good to him, in the joyful times as well as the difficult ones. Now as he stands on the precipice of his professional baseball journey, he can be sure that whatever the Lord has in store for him in the years ahead, it will be for his ultimate good.
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