PEORIA, Ariz. — Gavin Sheets grew up with a pretty good coach in his house.
He learned how to get the head of the bat out front and hit to the big parts of the field from his father, Larry, who played eight seasons in the major leagues.
But they had not worked together in a few offseasons before this winter, when Gavin again turned to his father after a couple tough seasons that left him without a job.
“Not trying to search anymore,” Gavin Sheets said earlier this week. “Trying to get back to what made me have success for two years and what I got away from a little bit. Getting back to the basics. And it feels good. It feels like I’ve come to the camp in the spot where I’m not searching for things.”
Serving as the Padres’ designated hitter Friday in their spring training opener, a 5-2 victory over the Mariners, Sheets demonstrated what he has been working on by doubling in both of his at-bats.
“I feel good about the adjustments I made this offseason,” said Sheets . “I love the work that I put in here with the new coaching staff, just getting their ideas of what they see and what they’ve seen over the past and the hitter I can get back to being. So coming out today and seeing it flourish in the game is always nice.”
Sheets, 28, was designated for assignment by the White Sox in November and signed a minor-league deal with the Padres earlier this month. He is expected to get some time this spring at first base, where he has started 64 games in his career. He has started 96 games in right field and three in left. His best chance to stick with the Padres is perhaps as part of their DH rotation.
Regardless, it’s his bat that will determine whether the left-handed hitter breaks camp with the big-league club.
