Spring training lies to you. It always has. Batting averages spike, ERAs balloon, and every backfield breakout starts to feel like a prophecy. But every March also leaves breadcrumbs, real ones if you know where to look. Approach, bat speed, physicality, how a player carries himself against arms a level above where he’s lived. That stuff travels. This year, three rookie shortstops are on everybody’s minds and just how much they will be able to force the conversation. Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle, and JJ Wetherholt didn’t treat camp like a tryout. They treated it like a preview, so let’s see what we can expect from this trio in 2026.