Sheets likely to make roster for Padres this season

Gavin Sheets is well known in the lower Eastern Shore.  Gavin is the grandson of Jo Ann Lusby  and her late husband Gene of Pocomoke City and the son of the former Sharon Lusby and former Orioles star Larry Sheets and the nephew of Mark  and Brooke Lusby.   He spent many summers here and has spoken several times at local churches and the Holly Grove Christian School.

Sheets has played the last four seasons with the Chicago White Sox and was sent to the San Diego Padres in the off season signing a minor league contract with the Padres.

According to an article by AJ Cassavell “ Just before Spring Training, as the Padres neared a deal with lefty slugger Gavin Sheets, manager Mike Shildt made a phone call to a mutual connection: Tony La Russa.

Sheets had played for La Russa with the White Sox during his two best seasons as a big leaguer in 2021 and ‘22. In speaking with Shildt, La Russa mentioned Chicago’s AL Central title run in ‘21 and the crucial role Sheets played.

“He said: ‘You can win with this guy,’” Shildt recalled. “That’s all I needed to know from a guy that’s won the second-most games of anyone to ever manage. That was enough to sign off on it for me.”

Casavell continues  “a month later, Sheets is mashing his way toward a spot on San Diego’s Opening Day roster — and perhaps even the starting lineup. A non-roster invitee on a Minor League deal, Sheets has posted a 1.051 OPS through 14 Cactus League games.

He entered play Wednesday with a homer in each of his last three games. Then, Sheets one-upped himself by hitting two against his former club on Tuesday — including a majestic walk-off two-run blast, as the Padres beat the White Sox, 7-5. It’s only Spring Training, sure.

This particular walk-off blast might just have sealed Sheets’ place on the Opening Day roster. There are still two weeks remaining until those decisions must be made, and the Padres have a number of players in contention for three available non-catcher position-player spots. But there’s a clear need for a hitter like Sheets — a left-handed power threat off the bench.”

“The exciting thing about getting into a new organization is you get new thoughts,” Sheets said. “Getting to work with the guys here, they’ve been awesome. They’ve had a game plan for me, with what they’ve seen over the past, that they think can take me to the next level and be an impact player. I’m just buying in.”

Wednesday night the Padres lost to the Colorado Rockies by a score of 13-2. However one of the Padres two runs was scored on a RBI by Sheets in the first inning.

Source: A spring training article on the Padres by A.J. Cassavell