Gavin Sheets Bio
Gavin Crawford Sheets (born April 23, 1996) is an American professional baseball left fielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, the organization that originally selected him in the 2017 MLB Draft. Sheets made his major league debut in 2021 and has built his career as a left-handed hitting corner outfielder and first baseman.
Standing 6-foot-5, Sheets bats left-handed and has spent time at first base and both corner outfield spots throughout his professional career. He signed with the Padres in early 2025 and earned a spot on the club’s Opening Day roster.
Early Life and Background
Gavin Crawford Sheets was born on April 23, 1996, and grew up in a baseball family. He is the son of Larry Sheets, a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played in the majors during the late 1980s, and the sport became a central part of his upbringing. Being raised by a former big leaguer gave Sheets an early understanding of the demands of professional baseball and a natural path into the game.
Sheets attended the Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland, where he starred as a two-way player and emerged as one of the more highly regarded high school hitters in the region. The Atlanta Braves selected him in the 2014 MLB Draft, but Sheets chose to honor his college commitment rather than turn professional at a young age. That decision set the stage for his development as a hitter at the collegiate level.
Beyond baseball, Sheets has spoken publicly about his Christian faith, which he has identified as an important part of his personal life.
Path to Baseball
After passing on the Braves in 2014, Sheets enrolled at Wake Forest University to play college baseball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He quickly established himself as a middle-of-the-order run producer in the Atlantic Coast Conference. During the summer of 2016, he sharpened his skills with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a respected showcase for top college talent.
His junior season at Wake Forest in 2017 was his breakthrough as an amateur. Sheets batted .317 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs in 63 games and was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference. He also gained additional experience with the Baltimore Redbirds of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, staying active in his home-area baseball community. That production convinced a major league organization to invest a high draft pick in his bat.
Gavin Sheets Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
The Chicago White Sox selected Sheets in the second round, with the 49th overall pick, of the 2017 MLB Draft, and he signed for a $2 million bonus. He began his professional career with the Arizona White Sox of the Rookie-level Arizona League before moving up to the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Across his first season, he posted a combined .279 batting average with four home runs and 28 RBI in 56 games.
Sheets spent 2018 with the Winston-Salem Dash of the High-A Carolina League, where he slashed .293/.368/.407 with six home runs and 61 RBI in 119 games. In 2019, he advanced to the Birmingham Barons of the Double-A Southern League, batting .267/.345/.414 with 16 home runs and 83 RBI in 126 games, and was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs that offseason. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season, and Sheets was not invited to the White Sox’ alternate training site, but the organization added him to the 40-man roster in November 2020 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Chicago White Sox Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Sheets began 2021 with the Charlotte Knights of Triple-A East and also saw his first professional outfield reps in addition to playing first base. After Andrew Vaughn went on the COVID-19 injured list, Sheets was briefly recalled in early June but returned to Charlotte without appearing in a game. He earned a second promotion on June 29 and made his MLB debut that day as the starting right fielder against the Minnesota Twins.
In that debut, Sheets recorded his first major league hit, a single to left field off Kenta Maeda, along with his first RBI, first extra-base hit, and first run scored. The next day, he hit his first major league home run off Matt Shoemaker, and on July 19 he delivered a three-run walk-off home run off José Berríos to cap a doubleheader win. Overall, Sheets appeared in 54 games as a rookie, posting a .250 batting average with 11 home runs and 34 RBI, and he was added to the White Sox postseason roster. He homered off Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros in what would be Chicago’s only run in a 10–1 elimination loss.
Chicago White Sox Veteran Years (2023–2024)
Sheets’ production dipped in 2023, when he batted .203/.267/.331 in 311 at-bats and struggled particularly against left-handed pitching, hitting .053 with an .103 OPS in 20 plate appearances. His defense was also a concern, with a fielding run value of minus-six placing him in the 13th percentile in MLB. He continued to split time between first base and the outfield as Chicago worked to find the right role for him.
In 2024, Sheets appeared in 139 games for the White Sox, slashing .233/.303/.357 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI. After the season, the White Sox non-tendered him on November 22, 2024, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
San Diego Padres Era (2025–Present)
On February 9, 2025, Sheets signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres, looking for a fresh opportunity after being non-tendered by Chicago. His strong spring training earned him a longer look, and on March 20 the Padres selected his contract after he made the Opening Day roster. The move gave Sheets a chance to contribute as a corner bat and left-handed hitter in the San Diego lineup.
Sheets made an immediate impact in his Padres debut, hitting a solo home run off Atlanta Braves pitcher Héctor Neris in his first at-bat as a Padre on Opening Day. The early returns suggested a fit in the club’s plans for the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sheets is a tall, left-handed power hitter whose game is built around his bat. He has shown the ability to drive the ball to the middle of the field and use the whole field, and his size gives him a long lever that produces hard contact when he is on time. He is also a capable defender at first base and has worked to add outfield versatility to his profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sheets’ three-run walk-off home run against the Twins in July 2021 announced his arrival in the major leagues, and his Opening Day homer for the Padres in 2025 marked a strong start to his next chapter. Drafted 49th overall in 2017 and signed to a $2 million bonus, he has steadily climbed from Rookie ball to a multi-year MLB role.
Gavin Sheets Career Wins
Sheets’ career has been defined more by offensive milestones and consistent everyday play than by championship trophies. He has yet to capture a major individual award or a postseason series, with the 2021 ALDS against Houston representing his only taste of playoff baseball to date.
MLB Highlights
Sheets’ most memorable MLB moment came on July 19, 2021, when his three-run walk-off homer off José Berríos gave the White Sox a 5–3 win over the Twins. His first major league home run off Matt Shoemaker the day after his debut further cemented his arrival, and his first-inning homer off Héctor Neris in his Padres debut gave him a fast start in San Diego.
Other Performances
At Wake Forest, Sheets was an All-ACC selection in 2017 after batting .317 with 21 home runs and 84 RBI. Across the minors, he was a steady run producer, including a 16-homer, 83-RBI season at Double-A Birmingham in 2019 and a Cape Cod League summer with the Wareham Gatemen in 2016.
Gavin Sheets Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Sheets comes from a baseball family. His father, Larry Sheets, played outfielder in Major League Baseball, including time with the Baltimore Orioles, giving Gavin a direct connection to the highest level of the sport. That lineage helped shape his path into professional baseball.
Personal Life
Sheets is a Christian and has been open about the role of his faith in his life. He grew up in the Baltimore area and continues to be based in the United States as he pursues his MLB career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a reset for Sheets after a tough finish in Chicago. Signed to a minor league deal with the Padres in February, he forced his way onto the Opening Day roster with a strong spring training and immediately delivered, homering off Héctor Neris in his first at-bat as a Padre. With the Padres, he is positioned as a left-handed bat who can play first base and the corner outfield spots.
For Sheets, the goals in 2025 are simple: stay on the major league roster, provide consistent at-bats against right-handed pitching, and prove he can be a reliable everyday contributor again. His early results suggest he is on track to do exactly that in San Diego.