Gavin Sheets's Biography
Born on April 23, 1996, Gavin Sheets is an American professional baseball player, primarily occupying the positions of right fielder and first baseman. Currently, he is a team member of the Chicago White Sox, a team part of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his prominent mark in the world of professional baseball by making his MLB debut in 2021.
Sheets was born and bred in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended the distinguished Gilman School. He was initially picked by the Atlanta Braves during the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but instead of signing with them, Sheets opted to further his education at Wake Forest University, participating feverishly in college baseball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Honing his skills during the summer of 2016, Sheets joined the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod Baseball League to play collegiate summer baseball. The following year, during his junior season, Sheets showcased an evidently remarkable improvement and solidified his place in the team with some truly spectacular sporting feats. He achieved a batting average of .317, hit 21 home runs, and accomplished 84 RBIs in just 63 games, leading to him being named in the All-Atlantic Coast Conference. Furthermore, he was also part of the Baltimore Redbirds team in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League.
The Chicago White Sox placed their bet on Sheets in the second round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, securing him as the 49th overall selection. Sheets proved that their trust was well-founded by signing with the White Sox and receiving a $2 million signing bonus. He kickstarted his professional career with the Arizona White Sox in the Rookie-level Arizona League, playing four games before a promotion to the Class A South Atlantic League with the Kannapolis Intimidators. Notched up impressive statistics with a combined batting average of .279, four home runs and 28 RBIs in 56 games across both teams.
In 2018, Sheets stayed with the Winston-Salem Dash in the Class A-Advanced Carolina League, where he posted impressive stats with a batting average of .293, six home runs, and 61 RBIs spread over 119 games. The subsequent year saw him play with the Birmingham Barons in the Class AA Southern League, maintaining a batting average of .267, alongside 16 home runs and 83 RBIs over 126 games. He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs after the season.
However, 2020 turned out to be a slow year for Sheets due to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the cancellation of the minor leagues protractedly. In the face of these tribulations, Sheets was not invited to attend the White Sox’ alternate training site. Nevertheless, he made it into the 40-man roster later that year in November. After his inclusion in the roster, he began the following season with the Charlotte Knights in the newly formed Triple-A East and played his first professional games in the outfield.
In June 2021, Sheets got promoted to the major leagues only to be sent back to Charlotte just two days later without even making an appearance in a game. However, he was recalled later that month, making his first appearance as a right fielder in a game against the Minnesota Twins.
During his debut, he made his first major league hit, specifically a single to the left field, off Kenta Maeda. He also recorded his first major league RBI, his first extra base hit, and scored his first major league run, all off Maeda. The very next day, he managed to hit his first major league home run against Matt Shoemaker. Later that same month and in the second game of a doubleheader, Sheets delivered his first career walk-off hit with a three-run home run off José Berríos, securing a winning score of 5-3.
During 2021, Sheets appeared in 54 games, where he achieved a .250 batting average, hitting 11 home runs and making 34 runs. He was also added to the postseason roster the same year making his postseason debut in game 1 against the Houston Astros. In the fourth game, Sheets hit his first postseason home run off the pitches of Lance McCullers Jr. Thus ended the White Sox’s run, having lost 10-1 and thereby getting eliminated.
With the White Sox in 2023, Sheets made strides in his career amid challenges, achieving a batting average of .203/.267/.331 in 311 attempts. Against left-handed pitchers, his batting statistics showed a .053 average with an OPS of .103 in 20 plate apperances. On the field, his fielding run value was recorded at -6, placing him in the 13th percentile in MLB.
Sheets continues the legacy of his family, as he is the son of the famed Major League Baseball outfielder, Larry Sheets. His natural talent combined with his spirit and dedication ensures that he stands as a monumental figure in modern baseball. As his career advances, Sheets continues to write his own destiny one game at a time.
