Gavin Sheets Bio
Gavin Crawford Sheets (born April 23, 1996) is an American professional baseball player who serves as a left fielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously spent four seasons in the majors with the Chicago White Sox after being selected in the 2017 MLB draft. Sheets made his MLB debut in 2021 and has built a reputation as a left-handed power hitter capable of producing in clutch moments.
Early Life and Background
Gavin Crawford Sheets was born on April 23, 1996, and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where baseball runs deep in the family bloodline. He attended the Gilman School, a private institution known for producing competitive athletes in the Baltimore area. Coming from a baseball household, Sheets was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed his left-handed swing through years of local competition and training.
His path to professional baseball was shaped by his father, former MLB outfielder Larry Sheets, who played in the big leagues during the 1980s and early 1990s. Growing up around the game gave Gavin a clear understanding of what it takes to reach the highest level, and that family influence helped guide his development as a young hitter. He balanced his education at Gilman with travel baseball showcases, eventually drawing attention from MLB scouts before he finished high school.
Path to Baseball
Sheets first entered the national spotlight when the Atlanta Braves selected him in the 2014 MLB draft straight out of Gilman School. Rather than sign a professional contract, he chose to honor his college commitment and enrolled at Wake Forest University, where he played college baseball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The decision allowed him to refine his hitting approach against elite college pitching while continuing to grow physically.
During his summers in college, Sheets gained valuable experience in premier wooden-bat leagues. In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most prestigious amateur circuits in the country. He also suited up for the Baltimore Redbirds of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, adding another layer of competition to his development. In 2017, his junior season at Wake Forest, Sheets batted .317 with 21 home runs and 84 runs batted in across 63 games, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and solidifying his status as a top professional prospect.
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 signing bonus. He began his professional career with the Arizona White Sox of the Rookie-level Arizona League, and after just four games he was promoted to the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Across both stops in his debut season, he posted a combined .279 batting average with four home runs and 28 runs batted in over 56 games.
In 2018, Sheets advanced to the Winston-Salem Dash of the High-A Carolina League, where he slashed .293/.368/.407 with six home runs and 61 runs batted in over 119 games. He moved up again in 2019, joining the Birmingham Barons of the Double-A Southern League, and batted .267/.345/.414 with 16 home runs and 83 runs batted in across 126 games. Following that strong Double-A campaign, he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs, gaining additional experience against upper-level prospects.
Chicago White Sox Breakthrough (2020-2024)
Sheets did not play in a game in 2020 after the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was not invited to the White Sox alternate training site. On November 20, 2020, the White Sox added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, signaling that his major league opportunity was approaching. He began 2021 with the Charlotte Knights of Triple-A East, where he began playing the outfield in addition to his usual work at first base.
Sheets made his MLB debut on June 29, 2021, starting as the right fielder against the Minnesota Twins. He recorded his first major league hit, a single to left field off Kenta Maeda, in that same game, along with his first RBI, his first extra-base hit, and his first run scored. The very next day he hit his first major league home run off Matt Shoemaker, and on July 19, 2021, he delivered his first career walk-off hit with a three-run home run off José Berríos to win a doubleheader game 5-3. He appeared in 54 games as a rookie, batting .250 with 11 home runs and 34 runs batted in, and he was added to the White Sox postseason roster that fall.
After his rookie year, Sheets settled into a regular role with the White Sox. In 2023, he batted .203/.267/.331 in 311 at-bats while continuing to see action at first base and in the outfield. He made 139 appearances for Chicago in 2024, slashing .233/.303/.357 with 10 home runs and 45 runs batted in. On November 22, 2024, the White Sox non-tendered him, 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 start in the National League. He performed well enough in spring training that the Padres selected his contract on March 20, placing him on the Opening Day roster. Sheets made an immediate impact in his new uniform, hitting a solo home run off Atlanta Braves pitcher Héctor Neris in his first at-bat as a Padre on Opening Day.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sheets’ career has been highlighted by a series of memorable firsts, beginning with his multi-category debut game against the Twins in 2021. He also made his postseason debut that year with the White Sox, launching his first postseason home run off Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros. His walk-off three-run homer against Berríos stands as one of the defining early moments of his big-league career, and his Opening Day home run for San Diego marked another signature milestone in his new chapter with the Padres.
Gavin Sheets Career Wins
Across his major league career with the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres, Sheets has compiled a power-hitting profile that includes 77 home runs and 279 runs batted in, according to statistics through the early part of the 2026 season. He has also posted a career .235 batting average while contributing as both a corner infielder and an outfielder. His most productive stretch came during his rookie year of 2021 and his first full seasons in the White Sox lineup, where he served as a middle-of-the-order presence.
Major League Highlights
Sheets’ rookie season with the White Sox produced 11 home runs and 34 runs batted in across 54 games, capped by a walk-off three-run homer against the Twins. He added to his ledger with 10 home runs and 45 runs batted in during 139 appearances in 2024, his final year in Chicago. His tenure with the Padres opened with an Opening Day home run, signaling a quick start to his new chapter in the National League.
Gavin Sheets Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sheets comes from one of Maryland’s well-known baseball families, and he is the son of former MLB outfielder Larry Sheets, who played in the big leagues in the 1980s and early 1990s. The family connection gave Gavin an early understanding of the daily demands of professional baseball, and that upbringing has shaped his disciplined approach to the game.
Personal Life
Sheets is married to Kahla Sheets, and the couple has one daughter together. He is a Christian and has spoken about the role faith plays in his professional life. He continues to make his offseason home in the Baltimore area, close to the community where he first learned the game.
2025 Season Performance
Sheets’ 2025 season represented a reset after four years in Chicago, and he earned his way onto the Padres’ Opening Day roster out of spring training. He made an immediate statement by homering in his first plate appearance as a Padre, a solo shot off Héctor Neris on Opening Day. The early power surge gave him momentum as he settled into a corner-outfield and first-base role within the San Diego lineup.
Throughout the season, Sheets provided left-handed thump from the middle of the order and contributed to a Padres club aiming for postseason contention. He paired his power bat with a willingness to play multiple positions, a versatility that has been a hallmark of his profile since his days in the minor leagues. The 2025 campaign positioned him as a steady veteran presence in the San Diego clubhouse as the Padres pushed for a playoff berth.
