A Promising Addition to the Pirates' Future
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Monday that they had selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, a slot that carries a slot value of $8,336,500.
Curiel arrives after a breakout sophomore season in which he posted a .353 batting average, a .431 on‑base percentage and a .526 slugging percentage, earning Third‑Team All‑America and Second‑Team All‑SEC honors.
He had been named the 2025 National Freshman of the Year after hitting .345/.470/.519 with 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 55 RBIs and three stolen bases, and he helped the Tigers capture the College World Series title, batting .390 in the tournament.
The California native, who starred at Orange Lutheran High School before joining LSU, was also recognized as one of three outfielders on the 2026 American Baseball Coaches Association Gold Glove team for Division I.
The selection marks the third time the Pirates have taken a college hitter in the first round, following the choices of Nick Gonzales and Henry Davis, both of whom have progressed to the majors.
The first five selections of the draft included Roch Cholowsky going to the White Sox, Grady Emerson to the Rays, Vahn Lackey to the Twins, Jackson Flora to the Giants, and finally Curiel to Pittsburgh.
Pirates leadership praised the pick as a testament to the club’s scouting reach and its commitment to building a competitive roster through home‑grown talent.