The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced the club has signed outfielder Derek Curiel (pronounced “cur-EE-el”), who was selected with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Baseball America tabbed Curiel, who attended Louisiana State University (2025-26), as the best hitter, as well as one of the top defensive outfielders, among all college-level players in this year’s draft.
The 21-year-old Curiel, who was an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner after committing only two errors in 134 total chances (.985 fielding percentage) as a sophomore in 2026, also hit .353 (82-for-232) with 18 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 46 RBI, 34 walks, 13 stolen bases, a .957 OPS and 64 runs scored in 58 games during his second season with the Tigers. He was an All-Southeastern Conference second-team selection, while also being selected to the conference’s All-Defensive Team.
He was the D1Baseball National Freshman of the Year and an All-SEC second-team selection, while also being named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team, after batting .345 (89-for-258) with 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 55 RBI, 53 walks, a .990 OPS and 67 runs in 68 games in 2025. He helped guide the Tigers to their eighth national championship and second in three seasons.
Curiel hit a combined .349 (171-for-490) with 38 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs, 101 RBI, 16 stolen bases, 87 walks, a .975 OPS and 131 runs scored in 126 games during his two seasons at LSU. He made just two errors over 232 total chances (.991 fielding percentage) in two years with the Tigers.
Curiel was signed by Pirates scout Wayne Mathis.
The Pirates have now signed 16 players from this year’s draft.
