Royals infielder Adam Frazier reflects on PNC Park return after homer & milestone hit

Kansas City Royals infielder Adam Frazier had his return date to PNC Park circled on his calendar.

The Royals veteran spent his first six years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He vividly remembers playing alongside former teammates such as Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes among others.

So it was a special moment when Frazier stepped into the batter’s box on Friday night. He was honored with a video package and nice ovation from the Pirates faithful.

It was a feeling he will never forget.

“That video was pretty cool,” Frazier said. “It puts you in your feelings a little bit. (I’m) appreciative of them for that. It meant a lot and, like I said, a lot of good memories.”

Frazier went 1-for-4 in the game. He scored two runs and hit a solo homer in the eighth inning off Pirates relief pitcher Kyle Nicolas. The blast traveled 402 feet and nearly cleared the stadium past right field.

The Royals earned an 8-3 victory over the Pirates. They officially avoided a losing season for the first time since 2016.

Frazier also recorded his 900th career hit in the game.

“The offense looked good tonight,” Frazier said. “Put together some tough at-bats. When we can work at-bats like that and put a pitcher in a tough spot, it’s going to benefit us every night. Coming out of an off day, I think it was big to show that focus and take it into tomorrow and go from there.”

Frazier nearly hit his home run into the Allegheny River past right field. He has tried to achieve the personal goal but came a few rows short on Friday. He has two more games left this season to put a homer into the iconic river.

After Friday’s victory, Frazier said it felt a little surreal being back in Pittsburgh. It was the place where he grew up as a professional baseball player. And he remains thankful for all the great times in the city.

“It feels different, I guess,” Frazier said. “It’s good to be back. A lot of good memories, familiar faces over there and familiarity with the city and everything. It feels a little weird because it’s been so long. But it feels good.”

The Royals are glad to have Frazier in the clubhouse. He is a veteran leader that guys look to for advice.

“He’s been the best,” second baseman Michael Massey said. “Just learned so much from watching him and being around him. He is a super great teammate and really, really happy (for him). That’s an incredible accomplishment with 900 hits. To do it in a place where he started his career is really cool.”