Dodgers' Tibbs III bests All-Star closer/former LA rival on another big Triple-A night
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Need a tip on homering off an All-Star closer? Give James Tibbs III a call.
The Dodgers' No. 10 prospect did just that Thursday in his third multihomer game of the season at the highest level of the Minors. Tibbs smashed his second long ball of the contest off rehabbing Astros reliever Josh Hader in Triple-A Oklahoma City's 9-2 victory over Sugar Land at Constellation Field.
Hader ran into trouble in the top of the sixth inning, walking veteran catcher Seby Zavala and fellow rehabber Tommy Edman with two outs. Tibbs took a slider for strike one and then the left-handed-hitting outfielder belted a top-rail sinker to right-center field. His 14th roundtripper of the season ended the southpaw's night in his eighth rehab appearance.
Tibbs hit his first three-run homer of the game in the opening frame. Facing righty Ethan Pecko (HOU No. 6), the Florida State product pummeled a high fastball 428 feet at 110.2 mph to center.
The 13th overall selection by the Giants in the 2024 Draft, Tibbs -- who was later traded twice -- ended his evening 2-for-6 with a career-high six RBIs. Through 51 games this season, the 23-year-old has slashed .310/.413/.616 with 14 homers, 16 doubles and 45 RBIs in his first run at Triple-A.
On the mound for the Comets, River Ryan continued to work his way toward The Show in his return from Tommy John surgery. MLB's No. 80 prospect matched a career high with eight strikeouts across six innings. The 27-year-old righty allowed one unearned run on four hits without a walk.
The duo continues to build its respective cases for contributing to the big league club this season. Ryan, who last pitched in the Majors on Aug. 10, 2024, sports a 2.05 ERA in five Pacific Coast League starts. He has tallied 29 strikeouts while walking only three in 22 total frames.