Gary Sheffield

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #1 prospect in 1989
  At 19, Sheffield bolted through Double-A and Triple-A last season, leading the minors in RBIs (119) and total bases (294), ranking second in home runs (28) and runs (112) and fifth in hits (116). Then he spent September as the Brewers’ shortstop, convincing them he was at his level. Sheffield once was described by the late Harvey Kuenn as a young Willie Mays. He has no apparent weaknesses at the plate because he adjusts on breaking pitches so well, and his power is growing into league-leading proportions. Honing his once-blocky build has helped him remain an above-average runner. Sheffield has become proficient at shortstop and third base, and his arm plays well above sufficient at both positions. Left field also could be an immediate possibility, if it’s where he fits best into the lineup.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #1 prospect in 1988
  Scouts say Sheffield and Ken Griffey Jr. are the best high school talents from the June drafts of this decade. Sheffield, who is ready for Double-A, has wrists that are so quick and strong he can be fooled by a pitch and still make hard contact. He is the only righthanded-hitting prospect in the game who is discussed in terms of having Triple Crown potential. He has been a basestealer, but his speed has decreased as his block-built body has hardened. The Brewers are intent on making a shortstop of Sheffield, though some scouts say he belongs at third base or in center field. He has a terrific arm and reflexes, and he did start to play with some consistency in the second half last season. The down side has been Sheffield’s problems with police in his hometown of Tampa. He has been arrested twice, spent 30 days in jail and is serving a three-and-a-half-year probation sentence for incidents during the last two offseasons. Sheffield and his uncle, Dwight Gooden, who also has had problem with Tampa police, have moved to St. Petersburg.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #1 prospect in 1987
  Five teams passed on Sheffield in the first round in June. Mistakes are made. In June 1982, four teams picked before the Mets chose Sheffield’s uncle, Dwight Gooden. Sheffield could emerge as quickly as Gooden did. Scouts say he waits on breaking balls better than any high school prospect in recent memory, and he has power to all fields and basestealing speed. Tearing through the Rookie-level Pioneer League and then Arizona instructional league last season, Sheffield compiled a .379 average, 18 home runs, 97 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 27 attempts. In 83 games and 314 at-bats, he struck out just 20 times. While there are no questions about his offense, Sheffield is almost a liability at shortstop. He has the quickness and arm to play the position, but his mechanical work is poor. He doesn’t field as much as he reaches and grabs. Sheffield, who will begin this season at high Class A Stockton (California), will have to play himself off shortstop, which is a possibility because his growth is not complete. He probably would go to third base or outfield, though one scout who followed Sheffield closely in high school said he would make a terrific catcher.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked National League #2 prospect in 1988
  Sheffield belted a double and a home run in his first Triple-A game with Denver after he was called up from Double-A El Paso (Texas), and he has continued to hit with power while trying to make the transition from shortstop to third base. “He’s going to be a very good offensive major league player,” Denver manager Duffy Dyer said. “We feel he could be a shortstop, but we have a greater need for a third baseman at the major league level, so he is making the switch. He has a baseball background, growing up (in Tampa) with his uncle Dwight Gooden.”
• 
  Ranked Texas League #2 prospect in 1988
  Most managers applauded the Brewers’ decision to switch Sheffield from shortstop to third base when he got to Triple-A Denver. Sheffield played shortstop with El Paso, however, and then again after his September callup to Milwaukee. “He’s got good power, a quick bat, good hands a strong arm,” Jackson manager Tucker Ashford said. Said El Paso manager Machemer: “He has all the raw talent that you like to see in a player. I think he’s going to be in the big leagues next year. Everything’s going to fall into place for him.” “He can hit in the big leagues right now,” Wichita manager Pat Kelly said. “I think he can play third base in the big leagues next year.”
• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 1987
  Sheffield was selected lower than second on only one ballot, after driving in a California League-leading 103 runs. A second-half slump dropped his average to .277. At least two managers anticipate that Sheffield will make his mark in the majors as an outfielder. “He will be an impact player on the major league level,” Fresno manager R.J. Harrison said. “(A) change to the outfield will hasten his progress.” Even the manager who picked Sheffield low, Visalia’s Dan Schmitz, was effusive in his praise. “Strong body,” Schmitz said. “He can run, field, throw, hit, hit for power, he’s an RBI man . . . has all the tools. He’ll be a star.” Sheffield’s own manager at Stockton, Dave Machemer, said he’s “very advanced for his age. His arm strength, (and) a very quick bat with good foot speed make him a ‘can’t miss.’ ” Machemer added that Sheffield improved his shortstop play as the year progressed.
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #1 prospect in 1986
  Sheffield has as much raw ability as his uncle Dwight Gooden, who burst into the big leagues at age 19. That's according to nearly everyone who saw Sheffield at Helena and Gooden at the same stage of development. “He’s got all the tools,” Billings manager Jeff Cox said. “He’s got good actions in the field, has a heck of an arm, can run, can hit for average and power, and he has the ability to adjust at the plate.” Great Falls manager Kevin Kennedy said Sheffield has the potential to be a good offensive player in the big leagues, but right now “he overstrides. He keeps his hands back, and he needs to distribute his weight a little better.” If there’s an area Sheffield needs to work on, managers agree, it’s on defense. “He makes it look too easy,” Kennedy said. “He needs to work on his concentration.” Idaho Falls manager Rod Gilbreath questioned whether Sheffield’s size (6 feet, 190 pounds) might make him better suited to play third base.

• December, 1988 Scouting Report
  At 19, Sheffield bolted through Double-A and Triple-A last season, leading the minors in RBIs (119) and total bases (294), ranking second in home runs (28) and runs (112) and fifth in hits (116). Then he spent September as the Brewers’ shortstop, convincing them he was at his level. Sheffield once was described by the late Harvey Kuenn as a young Willie Mays. He has no apparent weaknesses at the plate because he adjusts on breaking pitches so well, and his power is growing into league-leading proportions. Honing his once-blocky build has helped him remain an above-average runner. Sheffield has become proficient at shortstop and third base, and his arm plays well above sufficient at both positions. Left field also could be an immediate possibility, if it’s where he fits best into the lineup.
• December, 1987 Scouting Report
  Scouts say Sheffield and Ken Griffey Jr. are the best high school talents from the June drafts of this decade. Sheffield, who is ready for Double-A, has wrists that are so quick and strong he can be fooled by a pitch and still make hard contact. He is the only righthanded-hitting prospect in the game who is discussed in terms of having Triple Crown potential. He has been a basestealer, but his speed has decreased as his block-built body has hardened. The Brewers are intent on making a shortstop of Sheffield, though some scouts say he belongs at third base or in center field. He has a terrific arm and reflexes, and he did start to play with some consistency in the second half last season. The down side has been Sheffield’s problems with police in his hometown of Tampa. He has been arrested twice, spent 30 days in jail and is serving a three-and-a-half-year probation sentence for incidents during the last two offseasons. Sheffield and his uncle, Dwight Gooden, who also has had problem with Tampa police, have moved to St. Petersburg.
• December, 1987 Scouting Report
  Most managers applauded the Brewers’ decision to switch Sheffield from shortstop to third base when he got to Triple-A Denver. Sheffield played shortstop with El Paso, however, and then again after his September callup to Milwaukee. “He’s got good power, a quick bat, good hands a strong arm,” Jackson manager Tucker Ashford said. Said El Paso manager Machemer: “He has all the raw talent that you like to see in a player. I think he’s going to be in the big leagues next year. Everything’s going to fall into place for him.” “He can hit in the big leagues right now,” Wichita manager Pat Kelly said. “I think he can play third base in the big leagues next year.”
• December, 1987 Scouting Report
  Sheffield belted a double and a home run in his first Triple-A game with Denver after he was called up from Double-A El Paso (Texas), and he has continued to hit with power while trying to make the transition from shortstop to third base. “He’s going to be a very good offensive major league player,” Denver manager Duffy Dyer said. “We feel he could be a shortstop, but we have a greater need for a third baseman at the major league level, so he is making the switch. He has a baseball background, growing up (in Tampa) with his uncle Dwight Gooden.”
• December, 1986 Scouting Report
  Five teams passed on Sheffield in the first round in June. Mistakes are made. In June 1982, four teams picked before the Mets chose Sheffield’s uncle, Dwight Gooden. Sheffield could emerge as quickly as Gooden did. Scouts say he waits on breaking balls better than any high school prospect in recent memory, and he has power to all fields and basestealing speed. Tearing through the Rookie-level Pioneer League and then Arizona instructional league last season, Sheffield compiled a .379 average, 18 home runs, 97 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 27 attempts. In 83 games and 314 at-bats, he struck out just 20 times. While there are no questions about his offense, Sheffield is almost a liability at shortstop. He has the quickness and arm to play the position, but his mechanical work is poor. He doesn’t field as much as he reaches and grabs. Sheffield, who will begin this season at high Class A Stockton (California), will have to play himself off shortstop, which is a possibility because his growth is not complete. He probably would go to third base or outfield, though one scout who followed Sheffield closely in high school said he would make a terrific catcher.
• December, 1986 Scouting Report
  Sheffield was selected lower than second on only one ballot, after driving in a California League-leading 103 runs. A second-half slump dropped his average to .277. At least two managers anticipate that Sheffield will make his mark in the majors as an outfielder. “He will be an impact player on the major league level,” Fresno manager R.J. Harrison said. “(A) change to the outfield will hasten his progress.” Even the manager who picked Sheffield low, Visalia’s Dan Schmitz, was effusive in his praise. “Strong body,” Schmitz said. “He can run, field, throw, hit, hit for power, he’s an RBI man . . . has all the tools. He’ll be a star.” Sheffield’s own manager at Stockton, Dave Machemer, said he’s “very advanced for his age. His arm strength, (and) a very quick bat with good foot speed make him a ‘can’t miss.’ ” Machemer added that Sheffield improved his shortstop play as the year progressed.
• December, 1985 Scouting Report
  Sheffield has as much raw ability as his uncle Dwight Gooden, who burst into the big leagues at age 19. That's according to nearly everyone who saw Sheffield at Helena and Gooden at the same stage of development. “He’s got all the tools,” Billings manager Jeff Cox said. “He’s got good actions in the field, has a heck of an arm, can run, can hit for average and power, and he has the ability to adjust at the plate.” Great Falls manager Kevin Kennedy said Sheffield has the potential to be a good offensive player in the big leagues, but right now “he overstrides. He keeps his hands back, and he needs to distribute his weight a little better.” If there’s an area Sheffield needs to work on, managers agree, it’s on defense. “He makes it look too easy,” Kennedy said. “He needs to work on his concentration.” Idaho Falls manager Rod Gilbreath questioned whether Sheffield’s size (6 feet, 190 pounds) might make him better suited to play third base.