Gavin Sheets Has Broken Out in 2025
From rock bottom with the White Sox to thriving in San Diego’s powerhouse lineup
Gavin Sheets is putting together a career year—and it’s not even remotely close to what he’s done between 2021 and 2024. For the first time in his big league career, the offensive production matches the tools he’s always had. And what’s fueling this leap isn’t just internal growth—it’s a full-scale environment shift that’s allowed him to settle in, see better pitches, and become the best version of himself.
Last year, Sheets was stuck in baseball purgatory on a White Sox team that went 41–121, setting a Modern Era record for the most losses in MLB history. The lineup was barren, and the team looked disinterested far too often. Sheets often found himself as one of the only real offensive threats, second only to Luis Robert Jr., and pitchers game-planned against him because there wasn’t much else to fear.
Fast forward to 2025, and Sheets finds himself in a completely different situation—and it shows. Now a regular in one of the most explosive and dynamic lineups in baseball, Sheets no longer has to shoulder the burden. He’s surrounded by stars, supported by winners, and finally able to let his bat do the talking without trying to overcompensate.
Elite Lineup, Elite Protection
Sheets hits in a lineup featuring
Jackson Merrill: A rising star and MVP candidate for years to come
Fernando Tatis Jr.: One of the game’s most electric talents
Manny Machado: A future Hall of Famer still producing at a high level
Luis Arraez: A multi-time batting champ with elite bat-to-ball skills
Xander Bogaerts: A veteran presence with postseason pedigree
Jake Cronenworth: Quietly, one of the more consistent and productive infield bats since arriving from Tampa
That much talent means Sheets gets pitched to differently. He’s not the guy teams are circling on scouting reports—but that’s exactly what’s making him so dangerous.
The result? He’s absolutely thriving.
Big Picture Numbers
Through 58 games and 198 plate appearances, Sheets has:
→ 11 HR | 23 R | 34 RBI
→ .260/.318/.481 slashline
→ .221 ISO | .347 wOBA | .350 xwOBA
→ 125 wRC+
→ 0.8 fWAR — already nearing a career best, and it’s only early June
He’s on pace to shatter his career-high 15 HR from 2022 and has already added more offensive value in two months than in full seasons prior. The context around him has changed, and he’s taken full advantage.
Tangible Batted-Ball Growth
The quality-of-contact metrics show massive leaps across the board:
Metric 2024 2025
Avg EV ⬆️ 87.8 mph→ 92.2 mph
Launch Angle ⬆️ 13.5°→ 15.4°
Barrel% ⬆️ 5.7%→ 11.0%
Hard-Hit% ⬆️ 35.3%→ 53.7%
xSLG ⬆️ .380→ .489
SLG ⬆️ .357→ .481
xwOBA ⬆️ .309→ .350
wOBA ⬆️ .291→ .347
These aren’t subtle improvements—they’re defining ones.
→ Hard-Hit%: 94th percentile
→ LA Sweet Spot%: 94th percentile
→ Avg EV: 87th percentile
These gains are the product of both improved mechanics and cleaner decision-making. Sheets has always had the raw strength, but now he’s making the kind of contact that changes games. He’s not just stronger—he’s smarter. And the metrics are finally catching up to what the eye test has hinted at for years.
Body + Bat Speed = Serious Power Threat
At 6’3” and 235 lbs, Sheets is built like a middle linebacker—but the most impressive part is how well that frame moves. He’s currently posting a 74.1 mph bat speed, which ranks well above average for big leaguers. Combine that with his new approach and confidence, and it’s no surprise his power output has exploded.
He’s not muscling pitches out. He’s squaring them up with real efficiency—and with less effort.
Refined Approach = More Consistent ABs
→ ↓ First Pitch Swing%: –5.1%
→ ↑ Z-Contact%: 84.6% → 87.6%
→ ↑ Ideal Contact Rate: 43.4%
→ ↑ Ideal Plate Appearance%: 29.8%
Sheets is chasing fewer pitches, getting ahead more often, and putting himself in damage counts with regularity. He’s not as swing-happy early in the count, and it’s helped him see more hittable pitches as a result.
These are signs of maturity. Of comfort. Of a hitter who’s finally in rhythm.
Pitch Type Improvements
Sheets’ improvements go well beyond surface numbers. He’s making gains within pitch types—a strong sign that his bat-to-ball improvements are sustainable.
Vs. Fastballs
→ AVG: ↑ .264 → .318
→ SLG: ↑ .416 → .602
→ Avg EV: ↑ 90.3 → 93.1 mph
→ PutAway%: ↓ 25.0% → 12.5%
Vs. Breaking Balls
→ AVG: ↑ .173 → .234
→ SLG: ↑ .323 → .442
→ Avg EV: ↑ 83.4 → 90.2 mph
→ Whiff%: ↓ 35.9% → 33.1%
He’s cut his put-away % in half on heaters. And he’s seeing breaking balls more this year, but still thriving.
That tells you everything: he’s being tested more and winning more.
Directional Power Gains
Sheets hasn’t overhauled his swing path, but one key metric has taken a big step:
→ Pull Air%: ↑ 21.3% → 27.2%
→ Barrel/PA%: ↑ 4.0% → 7.6%
He’s lifting and pulling the ball with more intent, and it’s leading to extra-base hits and home runs at a higher clip than ever before.
The swing decisions have improved. But so has the resulting contact quality. When you combine those two things, this is what you get: a hitter locked in.
Most Eye-Opening Stat of All
Let’s talk barrels.
2024: 20 barrels across 2,087 pitches seen
2025: 15 barrels across just 804 pitches
That’s more than double the efficiency, with more than half the pitch count.
He’s not just getting lucky. He’s living in the barrel zone with frequency—and that’s often the best predictor of sustained success.
Closing Thoughts
Gavin Sheets has gone from overlooked and over-pitched in Chicago to finally thriving in a lineup that doesn’t need him to be the guy but is now benefiting because he is.
The culture shift mattered.
The teammates around him mattered.
The belief in his own bat has followed—and now, he’s delivering.
This isn’t a hot streak.
This is a legitimate breakout.
Please consider subscribing for free and following me on X @OPS_BASEBALL for more advanced MLB breakdowns like this.