Going into Friday night’s game against the Mets, Sheets was one of the few bright spots for the White Sox in 2024. Not only was he the hottest hitter on the team—a low bar to clear—but he was also one of the hottest in the American League. Over an 18-game stretch starting on August 7, Sheets was hitting .385 (25-for-65) with five doubles, a home run, and a .902 on-base percentage (OBP). Only the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, both batting .397, had higher averages during that period.

“The biggest thing is trying to finish strong and put together a decent season,” said Sheets, who has raised his average from .211 to a team-leading .240. “For me, it’s been about using the whole field and taking what the pitcher gives me. Just trying not to do too much.”

While Judge and Alvarez are chasing a championship, Sheets is playing for a team that could go down as one of the worst in baseball history. Entering Friday night’s game, the White Sox were 31-104 (.230) and on pace to finish 37-125. This would break the major league record for most losses in a season, set by the 1962 Mets (40-120), and for the lowest winning percentage in a season, set by the 1916 Athletics (36-117, .235).

Despite the dismal team record, Sheets’ recent success is a testament to his perseverance. His hot streak began right after the Sox snapped their 21-game losing streak—a streak that connected Sheets with his father, Larry Sheets, who played in every game of the Baltimore Orioles’ 21-game losing streak in 1988.

“It’s been tough for everyone,” Sheets said. “There’s a lot we can learn from this season, and a lot we want to carry forward into next year. It’s been a mental grind. Baseball is a marathon, and going through this has been challenging. But I think we’re all learning from it.”

Sheets’ resurgence has also coincided with Grady Sizemore taking over as the White Sox manager, replacing Pedro Grifol.

“I’ve been high on Gavin from the start,” Sizemore said. “I like his makeup. He outworked everyone, played out of position in right field, and held his own. He anchored the middle of our lineup when a lot of our key players were injured, and he’s a tremendous leader in the clubhouse. We’re fortunate to have him.”

As the season winds down, the White Sox are eager for the offseason to begin. They’ve earned their historically poor record, and their top players, like pitcher Garrett Crochet and centerfielder Luis Robert Jr., could be on the trading block this offseason. The team’s future looks bleak, and most of the players who will be part of the next contending White Sox team are likely still in the minor leagues or even in college or high school.

But Gavin Sheets has earned the right to believe he’ll be a better player for enduring a season like this.

“Absolutely,” Sheets said. “There are a lot of lessons to take from this year—mentally, physically, everything. It is what it is, and we’ve gone through it. Now we’ve got to learn from it and get better.”

Is that even possible?

“I think you can use this season to your advantage,” Sizemore said. “Continuing to fight through a frustrating year and looking for opportunities to improve.”

“Our next four series are against playoff teams. It’s a challenge to compete with some of the best teams fighting for a playoff spot, and we’re going to try to disrupt their path to the playoffs. That’s the challenge, and we’re going to compete with these playoff teams and not just be an easy win.the