What happened: Jackson Merrill said he has been taking ground balls on the infield every day as he keeps alive his goal of playing shortstop in the big leagues. He described the work as an ongoing part of his routine rather than a one-off experiment.

Why it matters: Defensive flexibility can create more lineup paths over a long season, especially when a young regular can handle more than one spot. Even without a role change, the continued work shows Merrill is still investing in that part of his game.

What to watch: Watch for whether Merrill gets more infield work or any shortstop reps as the season moves along.