Max Moroff needs to see more action

Friday night was more of the same, as the switch-hitting infielder drilled a three-run homer against the San Francisco Giants, going 2-for-5 on the night.

Moroff’s powerful blast helped the Pirates roll over the Giants, but that wasn’t all; Moroff’s homer continued to fuel the debate that he needs to be getting more consistent at-bats in the lineup at second base over Adam Frazier.

Sure, Moroff’s raw numbers don’t look great (.208/.240/.375, 48 percent K rate), but much like last summer, he’s not getting consistent at-bats like he has in the minors, inhibiting him from settling into a groove.

Moroff has started back-to-back games just twice so far this season — April 18-19 against Philadelphia and Colorado, and May 1-2 in Washington.

While he’s received 30 plate appearances so far since getting called up in the middle of April, a majority of them have come in pinch-hit, or defensive replacement situations. That’s tough for a guy to come off the bench and produce right away.

One thing we know with Moroff is that he’s nowhere near as bad as he was last summer for a stretch, hitting under .100 last summer before being optioned back to Indianapolis.

What we do know though is that the switch-hitting prospect can

produce in the majors when given a shot.

Last September and October, Moroff steadily improved. He became noticeably better towards the end last season season when he began to receive plate appearances on a regular basis.

In 59 trips to the plate in September and October, Moroff recorded a slash line of . 260/.373/.420. Some could say that his .400 BABIP helped that slash line tremendously, but at the same time, he recorded a hard hit rate of nearly 33 percent during that timeframe, per FanGraphs.

Moroff will still strike out at a high rate (he’s at 48 percent so far during the 2018 season), but when he’s given regular plate appearances, he’ll settle into a groove, getting on base at a high rate, provide some power, and give the lineup some flexibility with his switch-hitting capabilities.

Knowing this, and seeing Frazier’s struggles, Moroff deserves a lengthy look at second base, at least until Josh Harrison returns to health.

Moroff received a look on Friday night at PNC Park, and came through in a big way, so hopefully Clint Hurdle and his staff sees what Moroff brings to the table and inserts him over Frazier on a more regular basis, not just against left-handed pitchers.

​While Moroff’s hard hit rate is just 16.7 percent this year, he’s shown in the past that  his hard hit rate will rise with more consistent at-bats. He’s earned a lengthy look in a regular role.

Now’s the time to grant him that look.