Todd Frazier hadn’t been sent to the Minor Leagues for a non-rehab-related reason since 2012, but when he signed his second Minors deal with the Pirates this spring, he knew what it meant.

Technically, Frazier, who was released by the Pirates on March 27 before re-upping on a similar deal three days later, was not sent to the Minor Leagues at the time. But he was part of the alternate training site team in Pittsburgh, composed of a mix of fringe Major Leaguers, Minor Leaguers in need of daily reps and -- in the Pirates’ case -- a two-time All-Star with a decade of MLB experience.

“I had an opportunity to go somewhere else,” Frazier said, “but I told myself, 'Listen, I'm comfortable with the team here. They know me, and I'm one step away from getting up there.' And I knew I was going to get an opportunity, whether it was [now] or down the road.”

Frazier knew that out of the gate, he had tough odds of making the team, which has prioritized playing time for younger and more versatile options like Phillip Evans and Wilmer Difo over Frazier. He took it in stride, worked hard and waited for when the team needed him, but he said it was definitely a much different experience from any he’d had before.

“It's just not ideal, because we just got done with Spring Training, we're ready to rock and we're really not playing against anybody except live pitching against our pitchers,” Frazier said. “We had a couple games in Columbus. But yeah, it's something that you've got to switch your brain and kind of trick your mind a little bit, get prepared and figure out a way to get through it, and hopefully you get your chance.”

Frazier got his chance on Thursday, when he was recalled from the alternate training site in a flurry of moves made by the Pirates.

“Honestly, it was a breath of fresh air,” Frazier said. “You feel like getting called up again for the first time.”

Though he did not record a hit in his first three starts, Frazier was in the mix in Saturday’s 6-2 win, scoring twice and being involved in a run-scoring play on a fielding error by Twins infielder Jorge Polanco.

Beyond being a capable corner infielder himself, Frazier has also been a voice of experience for a team that is young and an alternate training site group that is even younger. Pitchers will approach Frazier after at-bats to gauge what he saw and how they could have executed differently in a certain count. Players approach him for tips on hitting and fielding, though Frazier said he’s told Minor League Gold Glove Award winner Will Craig that he should be the one learning from Craig.

“He's great to have around,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He was around all Spring Training. Fun guy to be around. Really enjoyed talking to him about the game.”

Frazier said the Spanish-speaking players have even taken to calling him “Grandpapa.”

“And they still do it here [in the Majors], which is fine,” Frazier said. “I get a good laugh out of it.”

Though the moniker was obviously made in jest, Frazier’s age is not out of his mind altogether. Many of Frazier’s contemporaries have begun to retire. Neil Walker, who at 35 is the same age as Frazier, announced his retirement Tuesday despite potentially finding a role somewhere like Frazier has with the Pirates.

Frazier said he’s talked with his wife, Jackie, about the possibility, but he doesn’t want to look back years down the road and feel like he didn’t give one more shot to “one of my favorite loves.” He’s got that shot with the Pirates, and he hopes to seize it.

“Why pack it in now?" Frazier said. "I feel like I have some good years ahead of me. I'm not saying years meaning five or 10, maybe one or two. At the end of the day, I'm realistic. I understand what I can do and can't do. I’ll know when I need to get off.

“I want to play as long as I can. And this year, I’ve got another chance to do it, so why not make the best of it?”

Hartileb down, Crowe up
The Pirates announced before Sunday’s series finale in Minnesota that Geoff Hartlieb had been optioned to clear space on the active roster for Wil Crowe, who made his debut start with the team on Sunday.

Hartlieb, who was recalled on Wednesday, has not pitched in the Majors in 2021. He posted a 3.63 ERA in 21 games last season.