The Pittsburgh Pirates had the fifth overall pick this afternoon in the 2026 MLB Draft, and they took LSU outfielder Derek Curiel. Curiel had been rising up draft boards, and was gaining buzz as a potential top five pick heading into the weekend. For what it’s worth, ESPN had Curiel going seventh overall in their final mock.
Regarded as one of the best hitters in the draft, Curiel hit .353 last season at LSU over 58 games. He added 6 homers and 46 RBIs. He an OBP of .431, a slugging percentage of .526,
and an OPS of .957. He also stole 13 bases. There are question around how far he can go in the power department, though the bat skills are certainly there.
His scouting grades are as follows:
Scouting grades:
Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 45 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
Scouting report from MLB.com
“Curiel projected as a potential first-rounder early in his career at powerhouse Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS, but he didn’t perform as hoped in his final showcase summer or senior season. He withdrew from the 2024 Draft and headed to Louisiana State, where he was the leading hitter (.345/.470/.519) on a College World Series championship team as a freshman and batted .390 in the NCAA tournament. Draft-eligible as a sophomore in 2026, he’s posting similar numbers and proving that he can play center field.
A lean left-handed hitter with excellent bat-to-ball skills, Curiel uses a fluid stroke and mature approach to spray hard line drives all over the field. His swing is somewhat flat and he may not have more than average strength or bat speed, so he might not deliver more than 12-15 homers per season. He resembles Christian Yelich at the same age, though scouts are skeptical that Curiel can match the power gains Yelich made later in his career.
While scouts debate how much pop Curiel will have, there are fewer concerns about his ability to stay in center field. Though he played left field as a freshman, he has solid speed and looks more comfortable tracking balls up the middle. His arm is fringy but playable in center.“
ESPN’s opinion
“Who is Curiel? A draft-eligible sophomore after starring for two years in Baton Rouge, where he hit .345 as a freshman and then .353, with the ability to hit upper-end velocity. While his speed is only a tick above average, he has excellent instincts in center field and should be able to stick there. The question is how much upside there is in the power department. He hit 13 home runs across his two seasons for LSU and was way down the OPS leaderboard in conference play in the SEC. He’s 6-2 and lean, so there is projectable power.
Why the Pirates took him here: There was a lot of talk about upside high schoolers Jacob Lombard and Eric Booth Jr. here, but the Pirates opted for the high floor of SEC performer Curiel. As an outfielder who should make it to Pittsburgh quickly, the Bucs landed a player who should help at a position of need. The ultimate question is if Curiel will hit with enough pop at such an early pick, but the ingredients for a productive major league starter are there. “
