Payten
Jibben

Jibben moves up in the rankings due to the impressive two way performance this summer and fall. Jibben is a physical athlete listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, that should support useful strength. He performed well at the plate with a short, compact swing that produced multiple line-drives all over the diamond at PBR Tournaments. His athleticism really shows well in the outfield getting solid reads, an impressive quick first step, and appropriate routes to the ball which allows him to run down balls to the gaps. On the mound, he might event possess an even more clear ceiling. Jibben has a loose rhythmic delivery with the ability to drive the ball down hill to spots. His fastball velocity range was 85-87 mph in the fall, and he throws a devastating changeup, one of the best we saw all year, that regularly confuses hitters – and he can spin a breaking ball, too.

Physically built at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Jibben’s sheer arm strength first caught our attention from the outfield, where he uncorked a 90 mph high with true backspin and carry through his target. He hopped on the mound shortly afterwards and pumped his heater in the mid-80s, topping at 87 mph with rise and run. Pairing off that fastball was a 68-70 mph curveball that Jibben showed feel to spin and locate, landing it in the zone at a 75 percent clip. He also threw one of the day’s best changeups, a 73-74 mph offering with deceptive fade at arm speed that he located. Jibben figures to play a factor in the Oak Creek rotation this spring and he’s trending positively from a prospect standpoint, too. 

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-3, 190-pounds. Evenly distributed strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup with vertical tip.  Short the ball from over the top. Quick barrel delivery; Mostly pullside contact.
Power: 93.1 max exit velocity, averaged 85.8 mph. 72’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 90 mph. Long, easy action. Some arm speed.
Defense: Clean alignment and gains ground well on different plays.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Patient, tall/fall style delivery. Short stride, controlled move.
Arm Action: RH. Long loop, deep pocket with some wrist hook, arm works with a higher slot release. Upside.
FB: T86.8, 83.6-86.3 mph. Showed control to glove side, average arm side action. T2076, 2042 average rpm.
CB: 69.2-70.5 mph. Showed feel for the zone, 12/6 typ[e breaking ball. T1669, 1610 average rpm.
CH: 73.0-74.4 mph. Slight sink action off of fastball, arm speed present. T1882, 1800 average rpm.

Jibben is an upside prospect in the state’s 2024 class. He’s 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, with a ton of room to fill out. His right-handed swing already showed one of the best peak hand speeds of the event – measured at 25 mph by our Blast sensor – and as he continues to add strength, he’ll only see his batted-ball metrics go up. Defensively, he showed all the right actions in the outfield with an athletic crowhop and a well-above-average arm for his age. It works from the mound, too, where his arm works fluidly, clean, and there’s likely a huge jump in velocity coming in the near future.

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds. High upside frame, long and lean.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, weight shift load, slight leg lift stride. Easy bat speed, short to the baseball, balanced middle of the field approach. Well connected throughout swing, strong repeatable contact.
Power: 88.09 max exit velocity, averaged 81.51 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Over the top arm slot, loose arm action with some length, clean arm.
Defense: Actions work through the baseball, thoughtful approach to play through with crowhop transfer.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Narrow start towards the first base side of rubber, upright posture at balance point, tall/fall action downhill. Level shoulders, maintains linear progression to target, athletic finish through release.
Arm Action: RH. Arm plays with present length on the backside, finishes from a high 3/4 slot. Loose shoulder, above-average arm speed.
FB: T79, 77-78 mph. Two-seam type, slight arm-side run at times.  T1945, 1819 average rpm.
CB: 62-63 mph. Knuckle-type grip, decelerates arm some. High arching 11/5 shape, depth.  T1469, 1290 average rpm.
SL: 67-70 mph. Short wrinkle, less depth than curveball.  T1625, 1575 average rpm.
CH: 66-69 mph. Thrown with below fastball arm speed.  T1557, 1507 average rpm.

5-foot-11, 154 pounds; tall, athletic build that projects well as he adds strength leading into his high school years. On the mound, works out of a high ¾ arm slot, smooth, clean arm action. Fastball sat 68-72 mph, touched 73. In 4.1 innings relief innings, did not allow an earned run.