Derek Curiel’s next big move won’t happen on a baseball field in Pittsburgh. It happened at LSU.
The Pirates’ 2026 fifth overall pick announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Kylah Ebertt on his Instagram story, with the proposal taking place the day before on Nov. 8. The setting was Skip Bertman Field at Alex Box Stadium, the LSU baseball field where Curiel played in college and where Ebertt was a cheerleader.
The scene was built for the moment: a giant “MARRY ME” sign, a huge rose heart, and a rose-lined path stretching from the dugout to home plate and out to the pitcher’s mound.
For Curiel, 21, it’s a major personal milestone as he begins his path toward the major leagues next season.
The Pirates selected Curiel out of LSU and signed him for $6.2 million, which was about $2.14 million under slot for the signing bonus. He spent the last two seasons with the Tigers, and because he turned 21 before this year’s draft, he was eligible to enter rather than return for a third college season.
He did not play for Pittsburgh in 2026, and his professional debut won’t come until 2027. Pirates farm director Michael Chernow told the media in October that Curiel had been dealing with some things in August, and the team decided it was best for him not to debut yet and to get an earlier start on his offseason.
That gives Curiel extra time to add strength and prepare for the grind of a minor league season, along with the challenge of facing professional pitching.
The labor fight between owners and the players’ union won’t affect minor league players, so Curiel is set to get a full season in 2027.
Pittsburgh may have landed the less expensive player at No. 5 overall, but the organization clearly sees plenty of upside. Curiel is regarded as a strong hitter, with a “60” grade from both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, and he backed that up at LSU.
As a freshman in 2025, he hit .345/.470/.519 with an OPS of .990 in 68 games, piling up 89 hits, 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 55 RBI and 53 walks against 56 strikeouts while helping the Tigers win the College World Series championship.
He followed that with another solid year as a sophomore in 2026, batting .353/.431/.526 with an OPS of .957 in 58 games.
Curiel is known for making contact and getting on base, traits that could make him a valuable piece of the Pirates’ future lineup. His inspiration is Pete Rose, the MLB all-time hits leader with 4,256 and the games played leader with 3,562, and Curiel has drawn to that same scrappy style.
Defensively, he can handle all three outfield spots, though he’s most likely to settle into a corner role even though he also plays center field well.
For now, the Pirates will wait to see how Curiel adjusts to professional pitching and how he handles the climb through the farm system once 2027 arrives.
In Other News...
Pirates Are Suddenly Linked To An Awkward Reunion Trade
The Pirates and Blue Jays have already crossed paths once in a deal that sent prospect Charles McAdoo to Toronto for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and the aftermath has only made the connection feel stranger. McAdoo has since reached the majors and looked encouraging in his first big-league action, while Kiner-Falefas time in Pittsburgh ended with Toronto claiming him off waivers, a tidy little loop that has kept both clubs tied together in an unexpected way.
Now there is at least some speculation that Pittsburgh could revisit the same trade lane and try to bring McAdoo back into the organization. Any such move would come with a cost, of course, and the Pirates would have to weigh whether parting with a controllable arm is worth reuniting with a player they once gave up in the first place, which is exactly the kind of awkward front-office second act that can linger around a team long after the original deal is done. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Just Got An Intriguing Option For Their Catching Problem
The Pirates catching picture already has enough uncertainty to keep the front office looking for outside help, and Gary Snchez suddenly becomes one of the more interesting names to watch. Milwaukee declined his mutual option, putting the veteran catcher on the market and giving Pittsburgh a potential fit at a position where injuries and offensive struggles have left the group short on certainty.
Snchez has long carried appeal because of his bat, especially against left-handed pitching, and that kind of offensive upside can be hard to find behind the plate. Nothing has been reported officially between him and the Pirates, but the connection makes sense on paper as Pittsburgh weighs whether to add a proven hitter to a catching mix that could use a boost. [Read more 🡒]
Jhostynxon Garcia Is Running Out Of Time With The Pirates
Jhostynxon Garcia arrived in Pittsburgh last December with the kind of upside that can make a trade feel worthwhile long before the player has settled in. Since then, though, injuries and uneven production have made it hard for him to build any momentum, and his first full look with the Pirates never really got off the ground.
The outfield picture is tighter now than it was when Garcia was acquired, which only raises the pressure on what comes next. He is headed into a critical offseason with his standing very much in question, and the Pirates will be watching closely to see whether he can turn a frustrating year into a convincing case for a role. [Read more 🡒]