James Tibbs signs below-slot value $4.74 million rookie contract with San Francisco Giants

Former FSU star James Tibbs had his major league baseball dreams come true in the 2024 MLB Draft, when the San Francisco Giants selected him with the No. 13 overall pick. On Wednesday evening, Jim Callis reported that Tibbs officially inked his rookie contract for $4,747,500. The slot value of the deal was $5,272,300.

Tibbs spent three seasons with the Seminoles.

More on James Tibbs III prolific career with Florida State

In the 2024 season, Tibbs started all 66 games in right field for the Seminoles and hit .363 with 91 hits, 18 doubles and 28 home runs, the most for a Seminole since 1999. His 95 RBIs were second in the country and also the most at Florida State since 1999.

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For his efforts, he was a unanimous All-American First-Team selection from Perfect Game, D1Baseball, Baseball America, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association. Additionally, Tibbs was named the 2024 ACC Player of the Year.

Tibbs’ standout season was far from a fluke. In 2023, Tibbs led FSU with a .338 batting average, 61 runs, 17 home runs, 43 RBI, a .682 slugging percentage, 48 walks, .471 on-base percentage and five stolen bases.

During his debut campaign with the program in 2022, Tibbs started in 45 of his 56 appearances. He recorded a .300 batting average with 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 32 RBI and a team-high .553 slugging percentage.

Tibbs played high school baseball at Pope High School (GA), where he was the No. 108 overall prospect and No. 19 outfielder in the 2021 recruiting cycle, according to Perfect Game. He led Pope HS to the 2018 Georgia AAAAAA state championship and a runner-up finish in 2019.

Although James Tibbs III isn’t a jaw-dropping talent in the outfield, MLB experts are confident Tibbs can find a role at the next level due to his excellent bat.

“The left-handed hitter is confident and smart at the plate, with an approach he’s improved over his time at Florida State, cutting his strikeout rate and upping his walk rate considerably from his freshman to his sophomore seasons, and even more so this spring,” MLB.com wrote. “He punishes fastballs and has been showing the ability to get to his average power and drive the ball to all fields, though he’s struggled more with breaking stuff in the past.

“Tibbs is likely limited to left field at the next level because he is a below-average runner and some wonder if he might have a possible home at first base, a spot he saw considerable time at with the Seminoles a year ago.”

On3’s Grant Grubbs also contributed to this article.