The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Monday, March 16, that top prospects James Tibbs III and Zyhir Hope are heading back to minor league camp as the defending World Series champs finalize the 2026 roster.
Tibbs and Hope lasted longer than fellow elite outfield prospect Josue De Paula, who was reassigned in early March, but they’ll ultimately meet the same fate. MLB.com ranks De Paula as the top prospect in the Dodgers’ system, followed by Hope. Tibbs comes in at No. 11 in the rankings. FanGraphs was a bit more optimistic, placing Tibbs at No. 9.
The three elite young outfielders were long shots to open the season on the MLB roster. Injuries to Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez opened up the possibility for a newcomer to join the squad, but veteran utilityman Santiago Espinal seems headed for the gig. Hope and De Paula will form an imposing Double-A duo, with Tibbs likely starting the year at Triple-A.
Los Angeles Dodgers Prospects James Tibbs III and Zyhir Hope Sent to Minor League Camp
Tibbs did everything he could to push for a spot in the majors. He slashed .326/.392/.651 across 20 spring games, good for a 158 wRC+. The 23-year-old slugged three home runs and drove in 10. While TIbbs walked at a solid 11.8% rate, he also struck out at an untenable 39.2% clip. The swing-and-miss in his game is the main factor holding him back right now.
It’s been a whirlwind professional career for Tibbs, who’s already been with three MLB organizations since getting drafted in 2024. The San Francisco Giants picked the outfielder 13th overall that year, then flipped him to the Boston Red Sox along with Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Jose Bello in the Rafael Devers trade. After just six weeks in Boston, the Red Sox moved him and Zach Ehrhard to the Dodgers in a swap that brought back Dustin May.
Hope was also part of a notable big-league trade. He and Jackson Ferris were sent from the Chicago Cubs to the Dodgers in exchange for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte. Hope did not have the type of spring Tibbs did, scuffling to a .184 batting average in 41 plate appearances. He also struck out at an elevated 31.7% clip.
When Will the Dodgers Prospects Be Promoted?
Despite boasting some of the best outfield prospects in the sport, Los Angeles was active in free agency this offseason to improve at the position. The Dodgers made a huge splash by adding Kyle Tucker on a massive four-year, $240 million contract. The organization also brought back Teoscar Hernandez on a three-year, $66 million agreement. Center fielder Andy Pages won’t reach arbitration until 2027, so he’ll be under contract for several years. Veteran Alex Call made just $1.6 million in his first go-round in arbitration this season.
Tibbs is the oldest of the outfield trio, given that he was drafted out of college. He’s also spent the most time at Double-A. Hope and De Paula combined for just 10 games at the level last season. Tibbs was there for 30 games in the Red Sox system, then 36 more contests once he joined the Dodgers organization. His age and experience might give him a leg up on Hope and De Paula as far as a big-league timeline.
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