Gavin Sheets is capable of being a really productive player for the San Diego Padres this season. 

If the Padres want to make the playoffs in 2025, players must step up.

More specifically, the team will need some offensive production from the bottom half of the lineup.

Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, and Xander Bogaerts give the Padres an excellent core group, but San Diego will need some unheralded players to step up.

This winter, A.J. Preller signed some veteran bats like Connor Joe, Yuli Gurriel, and Jason Heyward. This trio is anxious to show they still have something left in the tank. Preller also signed Oscar Gonzalez and Yonathan Perlaza to minor league deals, and each outfielder could emerge in 2025 for the Padres.

Another player signed to a minor league deal was Gavin Sheets.

The left-handed first baseman/outfielder brings a ton of power potential to the team. Sheets has always shown ability but has failed to produce consistently since being drafted in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Wake Forrest by the Chicago White Sox.

Sheets owns 1,299 at-bats at the major league level. His OPS during that span was .680, and he slugged 46 homers. The big lefty tends to strike out too much and has relatively no speed at all on the base paths, but there is something about his swing that leads you to believe he is capable of more.

Throughout his career, left-handed pitchers have owned him. His .458 OPS against southpaws is abysmal. While batting against right-handed pitchers, Sheets owns a .711 OPS in the majors. That is a monumental difference.

Go, Gavin, Go! pic.twitter.com/7zCCfQlQor

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 21, 2025

As well as this double, Gavin Sheets slammed a first-inning double against left-hander Jhonathan Díaz, which recorded a 105.6 exit velocity off the bat.

It was his hardest struck ball against a left-handed pitcher in his MLB career, resulting in a hit. It is only one at-bat, so it is important not to read too much into this. However, it is also a good sign that the Padres are connecting with him on a level he never achieved in Chicago. Sometimes, a new set of eyes in a different organization can make a big difference.

Manager Mike Shildt had this to say about Sheets on Thursday. “First of all, he really likes being here. I think all our guys are happy, but he is really excited about being a Padre and what we’re doing. He reported in fantastic shape. And then to see him do the drills, he’s a really good defender. He throws well. He throws accurately. His arm can play from the outfield. We haven’t worked with him very much in the outfield yet. He spent a little time Thursday in left field.”

Shildt went on to speak more about the new Padre. “He’s very intentional about understanding how to play the game. That’s come to the forefront. He has real ability. He’s taken really good at-bats. This guy has some real skill sets. And he runs better than I thought, too. He’s a big man, but he runs really well,” Shildt said.

Sheets still has a long way to go before making the 40-man roster, but the early signs are certainly positive.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.