With the 5th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates have selected LSU Tigers’ outfielder Derek Curiel. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound sophomore offers one of the more advanced offensive profiles in the class built around his advanced contact ability, exit velocities, and a strong, athletic build that supports future power development. The combination of his hitting ability and physical projection gives Curiel the upside of a middle-of-the-order bat.
The West Covina, California native attended
Orange Lutheran High School and in 2024, Curiel was ranked as the No. 10 overall high school player in the country and the second-best high school player in the state of California by Perfect Game. The lefty batted .314 with 33 hits, including 10 doubles with 21 RBI and 19 stolen bases in his senior year.
Curiel was a two-time member of the 18-U USA National Team and a four-time High School All-American. He was also named Player of the Year in 2020 and also in 2023 by Perfect Game.
In 2025, Curiel started all 68 games for the Tigers (62 in left field, 3 in center field, 3 at DH), batting a team-high .345 on the year with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, 55 RBI and 67 runs, as he helped lead LSU to the NCAA College World Series National Championship. He was also LSU’s leading hitter in NCAA Tournament games, batting .390 (16 of 41) with 4 doubles, 1 homer, 10 RBI and 13 runs and named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team after hitting .316 (6-for-19) with 3 RBI and 3 runs.
Perfect Game said of Curiel: “A tall and lean prospect with huge projection remaining in the frame. Ran a 6.61 in the sixty-yard dash. Really easy mover in the outfield with centerfield tools to go with massive instincts. The left-handed swing is loose and direct, and he produces length through the zone. He has a very good all fields hit tool and has had success against velocity. Highest level prospect now with huge ceiling as he matures. Good student. Committed to LSU. Selected to play in the Perfect Game All American Classic.”
Curiel comes to Pittsburgh with an impressive list of accomplishments which include:
2026: No. 1 Perfect Game Top 100 Sophomores
2026: No. 8 Baseball America Top 200 MLB Draft Prospects
2025: D1 Baseball National Freshman of the Year
2025: College World Series All-Tournament Team
2025: ABCA Second-Team All-American
2025: First-Team Freshman All-American (D1 Baseball, Baseball America, NCBWA and Perfect Game)
2025: NCAA Baton Rouge Regional All-Tournament Team
2025: Second-Team All-SEC
2025: Freshman All-SEC
2025: ABCA First-Team All-South Region
2025: First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
2025: Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Louisiana Freshman of the Year
April 28, 2025: SEC Freshman of the Week
March 17, 2025: SEC Co-Freshman of the Week
As the newest member of the Pirates, Derek Curiel was widely viewed as one of the most intriguing talents in the 2026 MLB Draft, who combined with his elite bat-to-ball ability with above-average speed, gives him the potential to develop into another one of the top professional players to come from LSU in recent years.
