diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs b/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs
index 1ca6c97..1e622eb 100644
--- a/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/NatsClient.cs
@@ -221,10 +221,37 @@ public sealed class NatsClient : IDisposable
                 var result = await reader.ReadAsync(ct);
                 var buffer = result.Buffer;
 
+                long localInMsgs = 0;
+                long localInBytes = 0;
+
                 while (_parser.TryParse(ref buffer, out var cmd))
                 {
                     Interlocked.Exchange(ref _lastIn, Environment.TickCount64);
-                    await DispatchCommandAsync(cmd, ct);
+
+                    // Handle Pub/HPub inline to allow ref parameter passing for stat batching.
+                    // DispatchCommandAsync is async and cannot accept ref parameters.
+                    if (cmd.Type is CommandType.Pub or CommandType.HPub
+                        && (!_authService.IsAuthRequired || ConnectReceived))
+                    {
+                        Interlocked.Exchange(ref _lastActivityTicks, DateTime.UtcNow.Ticks);
+                        ProcessPub(cmd, ref localInMsgs, ref localInBytes);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        await DispatchCommandAsync(cmd, ct);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if (localInMsgs > 0)
+                {
+                    Interlocked.Add(ref InMsgs, localInMsgs);
+                    Interlocked.Add(ref _serverStats.InMsgs, localInMsgs);
+                }
+
+                if (localInBytes > 0)
+                {
+                    Interlocked.Add(ref InBytes, localInBytes);
+                    Interlocked.Add(ref _serverStats.InBytes, localInBytes);
                 }
 
                 reader.AdvanceTo(buffer.Start, buffer.End);
@@ -285,7 +312,7 @@ public sealed class NatsClient : IDisposable
 
             case CommandType.Pub:
             case CommandType.HPub:
-                ProcessPub(cmd);
+                // Pub/HPub is handled inline in ProcessCommandsAsync for stat batching
                 break;
         }
     }
@@ -386,12 +413,10 @@ public sealed class NatsClient : IDisposable
         Account?.SubList.Remove(sub);
     }
 
-    private void ProcessPub(ParsedCommand cmd)
+    private void ProcessPub(ParsedCommand cmd, ref long localInMsgs, ref long localInBytes)
     {
-        Interlocked.Increment(ref InMsgs);
-        Interlocked.Add(ref InBytes, cmd.Payload.Length);
-        Interlocked.Increment(ref _serverStats.InMsgs);
-        Interlocked.Add(ref _serverStats.InBytes, cmd.Payload.Length);
+        localInMsgs++;
+        localInBytes += cmd.Payload.Length;
 
         // Max payload validation (always, hard close)
         if (cmd.Payload.Length > _options.MaxPayload)