With two hits and two runs scored on Monday, Kevin Kiermaier helped the Rays earn a win and remain on one of their best rolls in franchise history.

Individually, Kiermaier has not been on quite the same roll: Entering Tuesday, his .551 OPS through 35 games is more than 100 points below any prior season, and all three categories in his slash line (.213/.274/.278) are operating as career lows.

When a reporter suggested to Kiermaier that he’s been “a little quiet” offensively, the outfielder laughed.

“That’s putting that very politely, thank you,” Kiermaier said. “Hitting has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to work on in my life … I’m trying to be better, trying to contribute more. Definitely would love to have a lot of at-bats back throughout this season. It doesn’t work like that.

“You learn from them, and hopefully I can put my best foot forward and start contributing more on the offensive side.”

With a 63 OPS+, it’s reasonable for Tampa Bay’s everyday center fielder to want to contribute more at the plate. And the Rays might need him to, if they intend to go on another deep October run this season.

For now, Kiermaier adds value in other ways, both on the field and in the clubhouse.

On the field, the three-time Gold Glove winner is known as one of the best patrolmen in baseball. At any moment, he can make the type of play that inspires an awestruck Tyler Glasnow to swear profusely.

Statcast backs this up, as Kiermaier ranks in the 96th percentile in outfield jump; paired with his 93rd percentile sprint speed, that’s a recipe for defensive excellence. He also covers more distance in the first three seconds of a play (37.4 feet) than anyone else in the Majors.

“The way he plays the game, [he] never takes a pitch off,” catcher Mike Zunino said. “You see that defensively. He’s constantly working. And obviously a vocal leader on this team.”

Yes, that’s where the clubhouse value comes in. Kiermaier isn’t just a leader; he’s a vocal one. And when the Rays win, he’s the guy in the middle of the postgame celebration, shouting out the top performers from the game: who pitched, who homered, who made a great play in the field, etc.

“And then kind of finish with my own little rap jingle thing,” Kiermaier said. “It’s hard to explain, but the guys love it.”

It’s clear the guys love Kiermaier, too, and the way he blends youthful energy with a veteran presence.

The 31-year-old has been with the organization since 2010, when the Rays drafted him in the 31st round. Next to him, the longest-tenured Rays on the active roster are Diego Castillo (signed in 2014) and Brandon Lowe (drafted in 2015).

Tampa Bay has plenty of experienced ballplayers, but Kiermaier holds a special place within the group -- no matter what he’s doing at the plate.

“He’s the leader in the clubhouse and he’s the heart and soul of this club,” lefty Rich Hill said. “Really happy and honored to get an opportunity to play with that guy.”