PHILADELPHIA - The Pittsburgh Pirates used the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft to add LSU outfielder Derek Curiel, bringing in a left-handed bat they believe can matter for them down the road.
Curiel gives the Pirates another college name at the top of the draft, and another one from LSU. The last college player they took was right-hander Paul Skenes, who went first overall in 2023. The last college bat before Curiel was catcher Henry Davis out of Louisville, selected first overall in 2021.
That came after back-to-back first-round swings on prep talent, with shortstop Konnor Griffin going ninth overall in 2024 out of Jackson Preparatory School and right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez taken sixth overall in 2025 out of Corona High School in Corona, Calif.
Curiel’s appeal starts with the bat. He’s viewed as a strong contact hitter with the kind of approach that should keep him on base and in scoring position. The power is not the selling point here - he hit 13 combined home runs over two seasons at LSU - but the Pirates are betting on a hitter who can spray singles, control the zone and bring a high on-base profile.
He also brings value in the field. Curiel has shown enough range and speed to help defensively, and he could fit in center field or slide over to left, where he played as a freshman for the Tigers. His arm strength is not considered his best tool, which is part of why center may be the cleaner long-term fit.
For Pittsburgh, the hope is straightforward: if Curiel becomes a reliable left-handed contact bat, the pick will have done its job.
The national scouting industry is clearly high on him. MLB Pipeline has Curiel as the 12th overall prospect and the third-best outfield prospect. Baseball America slots him 10th overall and also third among outfielders.
His numbers at LSU back up the reputation. In 2026, he hit .353/.431/.526 with an OPS of .957 in 58 games, piling up 82 hits, 18 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 46 RBI and 34 walks against 43 strikeouts.
As a freshman in 2025, he was even louder: .345/.470/.519 with an OPS of .990 in 68 games, plus 89 hits, 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 55 RBI and 53 walks to 36 strikeouts.
Curiel was also a major piece of LSU’s 2025 College World Series title run, doing it alongside Pirates ninth-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, first baseman Jared Jones.
In the NCAA Tournament, he hit .390 with 16 hits in 41 at-bats, four doubles, one home run, 10 RBI and 13 runs. He finished that run with 2025 College World Series All-Tournament Team honors, and he picked up First Team All-American recognition from D1 Baseball, Baseball America, NCBWA and Perfect Game, along with Second Team All-American honors from ABCA.
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