Josue De Paula will deservedly enter the offseason as the young Dodgers outfielder receiving the most attention.
He reached the majors at 21, immediately controlled the strike zone and showed why he is considered one of baseball’s most talented offensive prospects.
But De Paula may not be the only young outfielder capable of forcing his way into the Dodgers’ 2027 plans.
On the latest episode of Blue Dynasty Breakdown, Austin Brubaker argued that James Tibbs III is much closer to De Paula in the immediate roster conversation than many fans realize.
That is Brubaker’s evaluation—not an indication that the Dodgers have announced a competition between them.
Tibbs’ performance at Triple-A, however, gives the argument real substance.
Tibbs Produced A Historic Triple-A Season
Tibbs spent the entire 2026 season with the Oklahoma City Comets and delivered one of the best offensive performances in the minor leagues.
The 24-year-old batted .287/.409/.532 with 30 home runs, 32 doubles, 107 RBIs and 109 runs scored across 141 games.
He also drew 108 walks, producing a .941 OPS while stealing 10 bases.
Tibbs led the Pacific Coast League in total bases, walks and extra-base hits. He finished second in home runs, runs and RBIs.
His combination of 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 100 walks placed him in extremely rare company and completed a remarkable first full season in the Dodgers organization.
Los Angeles acquired Tibbs and Zach Ehrhard from Boston for Dustin May at the 2025 trade deadline. Boston had obtained Tibbs from San Francisco in the Rafael Devers trade only weeks earlier.
The Giants originally selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft.
His Triple-A Experience Matters
De Paula has the greater prospect pedigree, the younger age and the advantage of already succeeding against major-league pitching.
Tibbs has something De Paula does not: a full season of experience at Triple-A.
He faced older, more experienced pitchers across 141 games and demonstrated that he could sustain his production while making adjustments throughout the season.
His walk total may be the most encouraging part of his performance. Tibbs did not reach 30 home runs by abandoning his approach. He continued reaching base at a high rate while producing power.
That does not guarantee the same skills will immediately translate to the majors. Tibbs struck out 150 times, and major-league pitchers would give him an entirely different test.
It does mean he has little left to prove offensively at Triple-A.
De Paula Still Holds Important Advantages
Tibbs’ Triple-A production does not erase the reasons De Paula sits ahead of him on most prospect evaluations.
De Paula is three years younger, already occupies a place on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and reached base at a .500 rate during his first major-league opportunity.
He also possesses a higher offensive ceiling.
Those advantages matter when Los Angeles decides which young player is most likely to help immediately.
Tibbs is not currently on the 40-man roster, and the Dodgers have not announced that he will compete for a major-league position next spring.
The discussion should therefore remain grounded in what has happened—not what the team has promised.
De Paula has already established himself as a legitimate candidate for the 2027 roster. Tibbs has produced enough to deserve consideration.
This Does Not Have To Be De Paula Versus Tibbs
The Dodgers’ long-term goal should not necessarily be choosing one prospect and moving the other aside.
Both are left-handed-hitting corner outfielders, which creates some overlap, but Los Angeles needs multiple young position players to successfully transition away from its older roster.
The larger questions involve role and readiness.
Can De Paula improve enough defensively to play every day?
Can Tibbs translate his plate discipline and power against major-league pitching?
Can either player provide sufficient defensive value in an outfield corner?
And can the Dodgers create meaningful playing time without leaving one of them on the bench behind established veterans?
Those answers will matter more than a prospect ranking.
Tibbs Has Earned A Serious Look
Brubaker stopped short of declaring Tibbs the better prospect. His argument was that the gap between Tibbs and De Paula as potential 2027 contributors may be smaller than the public conversation suggests.
That is a fair distinction.
De Paula’s age, upside and impressive debut make him the more prominent name.
Tibbs’ 141-game Triple-A résumé makes him difficult to dismiss.
The Dodgers do not need to decide the question in October. Their offseason moves, 40-man roster decisions and eventual spring performances will provide additional information.
For now, Tibbs has accomplished enough to ensure that the conversation should extend beyond De Paula.
James Tibbs III has not been promised a major-league opportunity, but a .941 OPS, 30 home runs and 108 walks at Triple-A should place him firmly among the young hitters the Dodgers consider for 2027.