(TNS) — After going 5 for 5 in the Pirates’ 5-4 win Monday against the Brewers in Milwaukee, second baseman Nick Gonzales was asked what he’d say if he could talk to his injured self from two months ago.

“Some darker times in the past,” he said, “so being able to impact the game and have a five-hit game today is pretty cool. He’d be pretty happy about it.”

The five-hit day pushed Gonzales’ average over .300, and after the three-game series in Wisconsin, it’s still at .301. In his last seven games, he’s batting .433 (13 for 30). Before Wednesday, when he went 0 for 4, he had an RBI in three consecutive games.

It’s a run of consistency manager Don Kelly is happy about.

“He’s using the middle of the field. He’s driving the ball the other way, barreling balls up. Just tremendous approach,” Kelly said. “He’s a great hitter, man. To see the way that he’s continuing to develop, continuing to get better, he’s doing a remarkable job.”

Gonzales, 26, was expected to be a key part of the Pirates lineup in 2025, going in as the planned everyday second baseman. Those plans only lasted a game. Gonzales suffered an ankle fracture during spring training and tried to play through it, but after limping around the bases on an opening day homer in Miami, it was clear he needed to go on the injured list.

It led to those “darker times.” Gonzales missed 60 games, and even when he started his rehab at Triple-A Indianapolis, his progress stalled when he was hit by a pitch in the hand. Swelling slowed his return.

“That’s frustrating, too, but obviously nothing happened,” Gonzales said upon his major league return. “Had some hand swelling and stuff like that but nothing broken. Was thankful for that. A little frustrating, but just ready to play some baseball.”

Gonzales freely admits there’s been frustration. It’s made it difficult for him to stay positive, but even among setbacks, it’s what he’s focused on.

“I’ve unfortunately been in that situation before where I was hurt,” Gonzales said. “[I was] just trying to stay positive and do anything I could in that current moment to get better and get healthy again. Just getting ready and be prepared [so] when this opportunity comes back and I’m able to be in the game, I’m ready.”

And after a brief lull, he’s been ready. While he had a hit in three of his first four games back in the big leagues, including two in a row with a triple, his season average was under .200 after his first six games. Since then, he’s batting .339 with a .484 slugging percentage and a .853 OPS.

He credited work with hitting coach Matt Hague for his success.

“We’re trying to stay consistent and get around my back leg,” Gonzales said. “Just be in a spot where I can go out and be athletic. That’s the way he puts it. The way I feel, once I am in this spot that we’re looking for, whether it’s around my rear leg or whatever it may be, it kind of frees me up to be the hitter I am and I’m able to impact the baseball.”

Gonzales has been an upgrade at second base, too. While Adam Frazier performed admirably in a near-everyday role, with better-than-expected offensive numbers, Pirates second basemen combined for 0.2 WAR before June 2, 23rd out of 30 MLB teams.

In the three-plus weeks since, Pirates second basemen have combined for 0.5 WAR, 12th in the majors and bettering the early-season total. Gonzales has started 19 of 21 games. He made an ill-advised throw Wednesday, but per FanGraphs, he’s been the best defensive second baseman in baseball over the last three weeks.

Since he returned, Gonzales has wanted to help the Pirates however he can.

“It felt different today coming to the ballpark knowing that I’m actually playing today versus how it was the past few weeks where there’s no opportunity for me to go in the game,” Gonzales said when he returned. “I couldn’t even really walk around, so I’m excited to be out in the dugout just laughing with the guys and help the team win.”

It hasn’t necessarily led to a winning streak, as the Pirates are 10-12 since his return, but Gonzales has made an impact.

“It was good obviously to just impact the game,” Gonzales said Monday. “Get an RBI early, put us up and then another RBI after that just to kind of give us a lead. Just taking it one at-bat at a time and not thinking too much into it.”

After time away, that’s all he’s focused on.