Start with the premise that spring training statistics are meaningless and don’t translate to the regular season, that a hot start is more symbolic of hitters being ahead of pitchers who are fine-tuning a grip or delivery.

Then consider that batters also have spent the offseason working on their stance and swing, especially those who struggled through sub-par performances in the shortened season last summer.

Disappointed by their hitting in 2020, Pittsburgh Pirates middle infielders Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman both made adjustments that are serving them well, as Frazier is batting .667 (12 for 18) and Newman .643 (9 for 14) in Grapefruit League play to rank atop all MLB hitters with a minimum of 13 at-bats this spring.

“Anytime you can get some knocks to start the spring off, it’s kind of a good feeling to build some confidence as you’re getting ready to go into the season,” Newman said. “Have to be happy about that.”

The Pirates have to be happy that their second baseman and potential starting shortstop can be a double-play duo both in the field and at the plate. Both are capable leadoff hitters, and if they can get on base it would set the table for No. 2 hitter Ke’Bryan Hayes.

Then again, Frazier and Newman shrug off their sizzling starts to small sample size. Both have missed some games this spring with minor injuries, as Frazier dealt with groin tightness and Newman with hamstring tightness. They also know that what can fall for a hit in spring training can succumb to a shift in the regular season.

“Yeah, that’s sometimes how it goes,” Newman said. “You get a couple good hops here and there. I’m sure later in the season I’ll line out five times in a row and not see a base hit. That’s just kind of how it is. It evens out, hopefully. You take ‘em when you can get ‘em.”

The early returns, however, are promising for another reason. After Frazier batted .230 and Newman .224 last season, both made adjustments in the offseason that are paying early dividends.

Newman changed his at the start of the offseason. He found comfort in lowering his hands and holding them closer to his body, something he’d done throughout the minor leagues.

“It was just a change I wanted to try coming off 2020,” Newman said. “It just wasn’t the year I wanted to have. I wanted to make a change. … I’d had some familiarity so I figured I’d go back to it. Just messed around with it. It’s definitely felt comfortable so far.”

Frazier, by contrast, only relaxed his stance after talking about it with teammate Colin Moran a week ago. Frazier tried holding his hands away from his body in an effort to slow things down and see the ball better.

“It felt kind of good and just started working on the timing aspect of it and just being honest I didn’t do a single thing like this during my offseason,” Frazier said. “He comes in, mentions it to me and I started playing with it and it’s working. So I am going to stick with it until it doesn’t work.

“Moran and I talk a lot about hitting and everything — life, everything — so we are always throwing ideas off each other, what we see. Some are good ideas, some are bad ideas, but we are always searching for something everyday and this could be it.”

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