A Fresh Start After White Sox

Left-handed hitting Gavin Sheets has found new baseball life with the San Diego Padres.

The more Padres fans see Sheets hit, the more they may really value his bat in their team’s lineup.

Even though he was still under White Sox control for several more seasons, on November 25, 2024, the team declined to offer Sheets a contract for the new season. That made Sheets a free agent.

Sheets, who turns 29 April 23, signed a one-years, free agent contract with the Padres this past November worth $1.6 million. It is quite a bargain for the Padres.

Sheets has two more years of salary arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent, in 2028.

Sheets played parts of four seasons with the White Sox, beginning June 29, 2021.

Last year with Chicago, Sheets hit .233/303/.357/.660, with 24 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, and 45 RBIs in 501 plate appearances. He stole two bases in four attempts.

Sheets is capable of playing the outfield, first base, or serve as the team’s designated hitter.

Sheets had an outstanding spring, which helped him secure a big league job. He hit .315, .373/.704/.1.077, with three doubles, six home runs, and 13 RBIs this past spring training.

Sheets smoked a pinch-hit home run in his first Padres at-bat, helping the Padres win their opening day game, 7-4, against the Atlanta Braves.

Sheets will likely serve as the Padres designated hitter against right-handed pitching.

About Gavin Sheets:

Gavin Sheets has a solid frame, at 6-3, 235 pounds.

It was a bit surprising to this old scout that the White Sox did not offer Sheets a contract last November.

Apparently, Sheets did not fit into the rebuilding plans of the White Sox.

Sheets was a 2nd round selection of Chicago in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft.

Selected out of Wake Forest University, Sheets was the No.49 player taken, and the White Sox game him a $2 million signing bonus.

Sheets has some sneaky power. In his first four MLB years, Sheets always had double-digit home runs.

Basically, Sheets is a line-drive hitter, as he doesn’t get much loft in his swing. But the ball does jump off his bat.

Sheets is basically a pull hitter, but he can take a pitch from foul line to foul line, hitting the pitch where it is thrown.

Not fast on the bases, Sheets gets his share of doubles with line-drive darts that he can hit to both gaps.

Sheets has a bit of a different profile than many of the left-handed hitters this scout has observed over time. In many cases, left-handed hitters thrive on balls low in the zone. They can get good extension on the pitch, and golf the ball out of the park.

Sheets likes pitches a bit up in the zone. He has a solid swing, but there are times he gets a bit aggressive at the plate. Overall, his approach continues to be more refined and measured.

Defensively, Sheets is average at best, playing both first base, and the outfield. As a result, his best role may be as the Padres primary designated hitter.

Gavin Sheets now has a fresh new start as part of the San Diego Padres.