Julio Rodríguez didn't need to do much this spring to get fans excited about what he would accomplish in 2026. He just posted a career-best 6.8 rWAR in 2025 and seems to become a more complete player with each subsequent year. Hitting coach Kevin Seitzer has already expressed excitement about what he'll do at the plate, and it seems like only a matter of time before he adds a Gold Glove to his list of accomplishments.
But as many fans are already well aware, he's not the quickest to heat up. Throughout his career, he hasn't really kicked it into full gear until the second half.