Gavin Sheets Passes Concussion Tests After Collision with Wall

San Diego, California – San Diego Padres outfielder Gavin Sheets reported on Monday that he passed all concussion tests following a hard collision with the wall during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Sheets was trying to catch a home run hit by Adam Frazier in the fourth inning when he crashed face-first into the padded wall.

Sheets remained on the warning track for several minutes after the incident, where he was diagnosed with a head bruise, hip soreness, and a jammed wrist and thumb. Despite the injuries, he expressed optimism about his condition. “All things considered, I felt pretty good today,” Sheets said before the Padres’ road game against the San Francisco Giants.

Though Sheets wasn’t in the starting lineup for Monday’s game, his presence is crucial for the team, as he leads the Padres with 34 RBIs and is second on the team with 11 home runs. This performance has been a surprise as Sheets was not tendered a contract last season and was signed to a minor league deal before spring training.

In a humorous take on the situation, Padres manager Mike Shildt remarked, “I think the fence is OK.” He noted, “Those are tests that take a while,” referring to the concussion protocols that Sheets was undergoing.

Sheets has played primarily as a designated hitter this season but was moved to left field to cover for the absence of teammate Jason Heyward. He has a batting average of .267 with an OPS of .817 as one of the team’s most effective hitters.

The collision took a toll on Sheets, but he reassured fans and teammates by stating, “I’ll do whatever they want me to do.” As the Padres continue their season, his health will be closely monitored, and he is expected to travel with the team to San Francisco.

In related news, the Padres are also awaiting updates on injured pitcher Yu Darvish, who is expected to progress to a bullpen session soon, while Michael King noted improvement in his recovery from a pinched nerve.