Riding a 12-game hitting streak, Adam Frazier continues to 'check boxes' for Pirates

May 12—When Adam Frazier got a leadoff single against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, it extended his hitting streak to tie his career-best at 12 games. Afterward, the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman was more interested in talking about his second hit of the game.

Frazier drove a Sean Doolittle four-seam fastball just over the right-field fence, a 389-foot shot for his first home run of the season. It felt like a long time coming for Frazier, who found going homerless in his first 33 games to be a source of frustration.

"I finally drove one there at the end but until then it's been a grind trying to drive the ball to the gap," Frazier said. "Just trying to scrap a couple out and be a tough out and see what happens. ... Even in BP, I'd hit a good one and I couldn't get it out. So, I didn't really know what was going on, so it feels really good. Usually, I guess it doesn't take this long but I'll take it."

Frazier hitting homers has been the least of the Pirates' concerns, given how he ranks among the MLB leaders in a handful of offensive categories. Considering that they rank next-to-last in the majors in home runs (22), the Pirates will take whatever they can get in the way of round-trippers.

"I think you like to check boxes," Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. "He probably would have liked to check it a lot sooner, but he's been really good for us. He's been consistent. Defensively, he's played great. He's done a lot of good things. It's nice for him to check that box off."

Over those dozen games, Frazier batted .340 (17 for 50) with five doubles and the home run. He reached base safely in 30 of his first 34 games this season, hitting safely in 13 of the past 14. That reflects Frazier's goal of not only getting on base but drawing more walks (14) than strikeouts (16) — his 10.3% strikeout rate ranks in the 98th percentile, according to Statcast — which is why Frazier isn't focusing on his hit streak.

Or, perhaps, it's because he was a bit superstitious about the streak. He didn't want to jinx his streak by answering questions about it.

"Nah, you're going to knock on some wood for me on that one," Frazier said. "But, I mean, I'm just trying to be a tough out and get the hits. I know reaching base is something I've been putting my mind to. And I guess the hits kind of come with that. But if anything, just keep the on-base streak and go with that, and the hits are a bonus."

Alas, the hitting streak ended Wednesday in the 5-1 loss to the Reds, when Frazier replaced the injured Phillip Evans as a pinch runner and went 0 for 2 with a strikeout and a groundout. Not only was it tied for his career best but the longest in the majors this season, along with the Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees (April 23-May 6), Tommy Edman of the St. Louis Cardinals (April 4-17) and Jesse Winker of the Cincinnati Reds (April 14-27).

Frazier now leads the National League in hits (43) and ranks second in times on base (60), fourth in singles (29) and doubles (11) and is tied for fourth in at-bats (138) and triples (two). One of the best signs of his success is that Frazier is sixth in MLB in strikeouts per at-bat (8.6). Typically, he makes contact. That's a positive for the Pirates, providing consistency at the leadoff spot and strength at the top of the order to complement Bryan Reynolds and Colin Moran.

"His bat has been consistent," Shelton said. "Early in the year, when he wasn't getting a ton of hits (he was) just walking. Now we're starting to see the swing come around. Doubles. Hitting the ball in the gap. He was able to get his first homer. But he's been really good."

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin by email at kgorman@triblive.com or via Twitter .