Bucs Beat Q&A: Meeting cousin 'very special' to Pirates hot-hitting SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Bucs Beat Q&A: Pirates shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa

What was it like to meet a relative when you were introduced to Ralph Kiner’s son, Scott, while in New York last month for the Mets series?

It was awesome. It was kind of weird that the Mets did way more for me with that opportunity than the Pirates. When I got here, I thought that that would mean more to the organization but they really haven’t done anything like that for me — or really care about it, to be honest. For the Mets to do all that for me, it meant a lot. That was one of the reasons I was really excited to get traded here, and it seemed like no one really cared. For me to go to New York and experience that, that’s the love I thought I was going to get here with the family name. The organization didn’t really do anything about it. For the Mets to have three days there and have a full press conference about it, an opportunity to meet Scott, that was really special. It was just weird that it was with the Mets and not the team I actually play for. That’s what I was expecting here, and I didn’t get it. But I was glad that the Mets took that opportunity to take advantage of that.

What was it like to meet a second cousin with the Kiner bloodlines?

It’s very special. It meant a lot to me. I felt like I got accepted with not only the family but with their organization. That felt really welcoming. I just wish the Pirates would do something for me about that, but I’m just glad someone was able to do that for me and our family name.

Is seeing Ralph Kiner’s retired No. 4 at PNC Park inspiring to you?

It’s inspiring to me. It means a lot for me to play here, especially with that. Like I said, I wish the Pirates would do more about it. The Mets showed me how much that meant to them. It doesn’t really feel like this name means as much to this organization, which is really sad.

You’re batting .283 out of the No. 9 spot in the batting order. What’s the secret to why have you been so successful?

Playing shortstop, it’s a very demanding position. Being able to hit in the nine-hole allows me to focus on both. If I play second and third, where I’m way more comfortable, it would be easier to hit at the top of the order. At shortstop, I have to work just as hard defensively as I do offensively. When you’re in the top of the lineup, you need to focus offensively. When I’m playing second and third, those are positions where I don’t feel like I even need to practice. I just show up and be one of the best players in the league in those spots. That mentality and going out there and working on the swing, it’s a lot easier. As an everyday shortstop, I prefer the nine-hole. It takes pressure off both, offense and defense, and allows me to play an all-around game.

What’s the challenge of hitting ninth?

I take pride in it. It’s more of a pride thing for me. Where people think of the nine-hole as a negative, for me it’s a positive. I look at it as a table setter, almost as a leadoff hitter. It’s like a swagger that I have down there that I carry. I think I really embraced it in New York and also in Toronto. Before, I’d always fight, “Why am I not at the top?” Now, I really, really enjoy staying down there and making things happen. I’ve feel like I’ve been scoring a lot of runs down there with Oneil, Bryan and Cutch (batting at the top of the order). It’s actually fun being on base when they’re hitting. It helps the team a lot with me down there. I’m really embracing it.

You’re batting .302 overall, which ranks third among MLB shortstops. What does it mean to be one of baseball’s best hitting shortstops?

It’s a long season. It means a lot, though. It’s the work ethic. These coaches have helped me make adjustments that I hadn’t made earlier in the year, so I kind of just bought in with (Matt) Hague, (Jonny) Tucker and (Christian) Marrero. They really broke it down for me. Ever since I’ve opened my brain to them things have been going a lot better for me. It was just gaining trust with them. Early in the year, I didn’t trust them much. I was able to trust the three of them, and I started doing a lot better, so it was more of a trust thing.