PITTSBURGH — Two years ago, Alex Presley was a .257 hitter in Class A ball.

How times have changed.

Presley, who turns 26 in two weeks, has provided the Pirates with prime production from the leadoff spot in the batting order and is a big reason why the Bucs rode a surge of success into the All-Star break.

After hitting .257 at Lynchburg in 2009, he hit .350 in 246 at bats with Class AA Altoona last year, earning a promotion to Class AAA for the latter half of the 2010 campaign.

“I can’t say I’m all that surprised at what’s happened,” the Pirate left fielder said. “It’s all about having confidence at the plate and being ready for your opportunity.”

Presley was likely coming to the big club anyway, but his call-up from Class AAA Indianapolis was hastened by Jose Tabata’s trip to the disabled list with a quad injury.

At the time of his promotion, Presley was hitting .336 with eight homers, 36 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 22 attempts with Indianapolis.

He homered in his first at-bat with the Pirates this season and hasn’t stopped hitting since. Presley is hitting .365, 19 hits in 52 at-bats, with two doubles, three triples, nine runs scored and six RBI in 13 games with the Bucs.

Presley has seven multi-hit games in his 13 starts and has already led off the first inning with a hit seven times.

“Nobody likes to get playing time because another player got hurt,” Presley said. “You hate to see hose unfortunate circumstances.

“But if I come up here and don’t play right away, or only play sparingly, I might have lost the hitting groove that I’ve been in.”

Pirate manager Clint Hurdle recognizes things like that. He’s brought a few players up from the minor leagues this year and immediately put them in the lineup.

“That’s gratifying to a player. I know it meant a lot to me,” Presley said. “When a manager shows faith in you like that ... You don’t want to let him down, that’s for sure.”

When Tabata does return to action, Presley will likely move to right field instead of back to Indianapolis. His positive performance will force some type of roster move.

Presley played in 19 games with the Pirates last September, collecting six hits in 23 at bats.

“Not only did that get rid of a lot of the nerves, I’ve been able to draw from that experience,” he said. “We were in last-place and the atmosphere was totally different. What happened on the field didn’t mean all that much at that point.

“Now the team’s in a pennant race and counting on you. Everybody’s upbeat and excited. That positive energy rubs off.”

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Presley refuses to get too caught up in early success. He is still a new hitter to most of the big league pitchers he’s facing.

The adjustment period is coming.

“No doubt,” he said. “Pitchers will adjust to me and I’ll have to adjust back. It’s cat and mouse. That goes on forever in baseball.

“The difference up here is every pitcher has something he can get you out with. You have to earn everything you get.”

Notes: The Pirates are two games above .500 at home and on the road at the break. ... The Bucs have won each of Paul Maholm’s last five starts at PNC Park. ... Kevin Correia, who pitches Friday night at Houston, leads the majors with nine road wins. He is 9-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 11 road starts. ... Andrew McCutchen has 14 RBI in his last 11 games. ... Neil Walker carries an eight-game hitting streak (14-for-32) into Friday’s game. ... Joel Hanrahan’s current streak of 28 consecutive successful saves, dating back to last year, is the longest in the majors.