The Padres Have Helped Gavin Sheets’ Career Take Off
Sheets has experienced a career resurgence since arriving in San Diego, emerging as one of the Padres' best hitters over the past two seasons.
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When Gavin Sheets was selected in the second round (49th pick) of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox, the expectation was simple: he was supposed to become a middle-of-the-order power bat.
At Wake Forest, Sheets looked every bit the part. In his final collegiate season, he led all of NCAA Division I with 84 RBIs while pacing the ACC with 21 home runs. He showed advanced plate discipline, the ability to get on base consistently, and the kind of raw left-handed power that organizations dream on.
Going through the minors, the power didn’t translate immediately. Sheets climbed steadily through the minors but didn’t post a slugging percentage higher than .414 until he arrived at Triple-A, then things started to click. In 2021, he slugged .507, then followed up with a .541 mark in 2022.
Between his minor league stints, he was called up to the majors on June 3, 2021, and he finished the season with the big-league club after a September call-up. He was productive in his first season, slashing .250/.324/.506 with a 122 OPS+ in 54 games.
Following his rookie campaign, he wasn’t the same, slashing .227/.291/.386 with an 85 OPS+ from 2022 to 2024. What was so apparent was the lack of power, the trait that made him such an intriguing prospect.
Following the 2024 season, Sheets was non-tendered by the White Sox and signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. And as we all know now, that was the best thing Sheets could have done for his major league career.
Stats were taken prior to play on May 28.
His Spring Breakout
Once signed with the team, Sheets received a non-roster invite to spring training, and he made the most of his opportunity.
In 24 Cactus League games, Sheets batted .315 with three doubles, six home runs, and 13 RBIs with a 1.077 OPS. It was safe to say that Sheets had made his impression and rediscovered his power stroke.
Sheets had left the club no choice but to select his contract to the 40-man roster. He would go on to make the Opening Day roster and start as the designated hitter.
Sheets stayed hot from the jump, homering on Opening Day and never really slowing down from there.
By season’s end, he posted career highs across the board, finishing with 124 hits, 28 doubles, 19 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .252 batting average. For the first time in his career, the production matched the upside that was showcased at Wake Forest.
Adjustments Leading to Results
These results weren’t an accident either, and it started with his mechanics.
Sheets went back to a more upright stance, similar to the one he had at Wake Forest. He brought his hands up and kept them closer to his head. He also replaced his toe tap with more of a hover move, which improved both his timing and athleticism in the box.
These adjustments allowed him to handle velocity better, particularly against fastballs at the top of the zone.
Mentally, there were adjustments, too. Sheets became far more selective with his swing decisions, focusing on controlling the strike zone and hunting pitches he could drive instead of simply trying to make contact. It allowed him to get his “A-swing” off more consistently, which is when his raw power really starts to play.
The underlying numbers backed everything up as well. During his breakout campaign, Sheets posted a .263 expected batting average (xBA), .453 expected slug (xSLG), and 46.5% hard-hit rate.
Following up from this breakout, Sheets has the source of power for the Padres’ offense. He leads the team with an .818 OPS, .490 slugging percentage, while tied for first in home runs with nine.
And for the second season, the advanced numbers remain strong, including a .260 xBA, .460xSLG, and a 45.6% hard-hit rate. At this point, it wasn’t a flash in the pan. This looks like the player Sheets was always capable of becoming.
Final Thoughts
Sheets has quickly become a fan favorite in San Diego. Whether it is the “Dairy Bonds” nickname or Petco Park chanting “Holy Sheets” every time he comes through in a big moment, Padres fans have fully embraced him.
And it is hard to imagine what this offense would look like without him penciled into the middle of the lineup right now.
As I said earlier, signing with San Diego was the best move Sheets could have made for his career. Sometimes players simply need a change of scenery, a different coaching staff, or a fresh opportunity.
It feels like Sheets already knew the adjustments he needed to make after leaving Chicago. He just needed an organization willing to give him the platform to finally unlock the upside that made him such a highly regarded prospect in the first place.
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Written by
Ethan is an aspiring sports analyst who has a passion for all sports. He was a collegiate baseball player and is now finishing up his schooling…