After playing four positions this month, Colin Moran started at his accustomed spot — third base — for the second game in a row Tuesday night at PNC Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Moran is hitting .289, giving manager Clint Hurdle enough confidence to put him fifth in the batting order again. He is second on the team in RBIs (11) to Josh Bell (16). Meanwhile, Jung Ho Kang, who started the season at third base, is hitting .143.

Hurdle said Moran quickly built a strong relationship this offseason with new hitting coaches Jacob Cruz and Rick Eckstein.

“He hasn’t reinvented himself,” Hurdle said. “He was able to take his year of experience (as a rookie in 2018) and have a presentation with two new hitting coaches. There was some likeminded-ness with him and Rick in the times they spent over the winter.”

Hurdle likes how Moran has adapted to a utility role that has placed him at third base for seven games and second, first and left field for one each.

“There’s been an intense desire to be whatever he needs to be for the team,” Hurdle said. “Anytime something has come up, he has come in his own quiet, reserved way said, ‘Hey, I’ll do that.’

“He’s got athletic movements everywhere he goes. His feet and his hands work well together. There’s no panic.”

The greeter

One of Hurdle’s favorite assignments as manager is greeting and getting to know the families of players making their major league debuts. He met two over the weekend when Cole Tucker and Bryan Reynolds joined the team.

“This is one of the few employment opportunities when your mom and dad can show up for your first day of work,” Hurdle said. “I’ve had the opportunity to speak with almost every mom and dad and said the one lesson my dad and I learned (when Hurdle played in his first game in 1977) was ‘Don’t take this for granted.’

“Every 0 for 4 doesn’t mean it’s a bad day. Jay Bell (former Pirates shortstop whose son, Brock, was a high school teammate of Tucker) used to frame it up. He said, ‘If you only enjoy the good days in the big leagues, you’re going to have a lot bad days in the big leagues.’ So I encourage the parents to really enjoy it and embrace and don’t get caught up in the roller coaster of the daily ups and downs.

“My dad and I learned that the hard way.”

Hurdle said when he made his debut with the Kansas City Royals, his parents and sisters were with him.

“We just all familied up,” he said. “It had been a long ride together, and there were no better people to celebrate it with.

“(Growing up), it was Sunday afternoon after church hitting balls, and my sisters were shagging and my dad’s throwing. My mom’s getting the foul balls. This went on and on for years.”

More Kela coming

Relief pitcher Keone Kela, whose ERA sits at 7.04, has pitched in only 72⁄3 innings in nine games, but Nick Burdi’s injury might give him increased opportunities. Kela has appeared in only one game since April 16.

“I’m open to start using him a little more often as we go with seven (relief pitchers),” Hurdle said.

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