Sheets off to sizzling start with White Sox
It started early in spring training.
After sitting out the entire 2020 season when the coronavirus pandemic postponed the minor-league season, Gavin Sheets wasted little time opening eyes at the White Sox's camp in Glendale, Ariz.
"(Jose) Abreu and I spoke in spring training about him," catcher Yasmani Grandal said. "We were very impressed seeing him the year before and then coming into this spring and starting to see what he had become. We thought he had a pretty good chance of making the ballclub, especially after Eloy (Jimenez) went down. We like his swing."
Sheets also drew Tony La Russa's instant attention.
"Very impressive," the Sox's manager said. "I know the bloodline. The dad (Larry Sheets), we tried to get him a bunch of times. He was a handful. But the young man's got real talent. They talk about his obvious skills, but they say he's real adaptable, adjustable. He's a very smart, high-IQ kind of guy."
Considering he didn't play last year and wasn't invited to the Sox's alternate training site in Schaumburg, considering he spent the 2019 season at Class AA Birmingham and considering he plays the same position (first base) as Abreu, Sheets was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte.
Not only did the Wake Forest product and 2017 second-round draft pick hit at Charlotte, Sheets made a smooth move to right field.
He was batting .292/.352/.472 with 7 home runs and 33 home runs in 31 games before getting the call to rejoin the White Sox on Tuesday. The 25-year-old prospect was with the Sox on June 3-4 but didn't appear in a game.
Making the most of his second shot, Sheets became the first player in franchise history to have a hit and RBI in each of his first four career games.
At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, the left-handed Sheets has big power. He's already hit 2 homers, including a mammoth 3-run shot in Friday night's 8-2 win at Detroit.
Sheets can also hit to the opposite field, a rare skill for such a young hitter.
He's been so impressive, La Russa has already moved him up to the No. 2 spot in the White Sox's batting order.
"One of my favorite places to put a dangerous hitter," La Russa said.
As for right field, Sheets didn't let last year go to waste. He kept his swing sharp and started getting comfortable in the outfield.
At Charlotte this season, he played 15 games in right, 2 in left and 26 at first base.
"A lot of hard work went in over this last year to get ready to be in the outfield, to put myself in this position where I could do both and help this team out in any way possible at both spots," Sheets said. "It's extremely satisfying to be here."
Sticking with the Sox is obviously the next challenge.
Yermin Mercedes opened the season on a month-long tear but he was optioned back to Charlotte Friday after disappearing in May and June.
Sheets is looking for staying power, and having a father that played eight years in the majors can only help the cause.
"Obviously my whole life, I've been in a baseball family. I've grown up around the clubhouse, I've been in and out of clubhouses," Sheets said. "You don't fully understand everything until you actually get in this spot but my dad's been huge in terms of just talking me through things on and off the field, of how to handle yourself as a professional and how to play professional baseball.
"He just said, 'Continue to play the game you love.' The biggest thing he told me was have fun with it. As long as you're having fun and doing what you love, the rest will take care of itself. It's when you start to press and change who you are, go out there and have fun and play the game I love."