Published • loading... • Updated
LSU Outfielder Derek Curiel Selected as the No. 5 Pick in the MLB Draft
Curiel’s bat and defense helped him earn D1 Baseball Freshman of the Year honors and a Gold Glove while hitting .349 with 13 home runs.
- On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the 5th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, marking a significant first-round investment in collegiate talent.
- The 21-year-old hit a combined.349 with 13 home runs and 101 RBI over two seasons at Louisiana State University, earning ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award honors as a sophomore.
- Praised for his "advanced approach at the plate," Curiel committed only two errors in 232 total chances during his collegiate career, demonstrating elite defensive reliability.
- This selection marks the Pirates' first college bat taken in the first round since catcher Henry Davis out of Louisville with the first overall pick in 2021.
- Despite prior discussions with LSU coach Jay Johnson, Pirates Senior Vice President, Assistant General Manager Kevan Graves cited Curiel's "talent, character and work ethic" as key reasons for the pick.
Insights by Ground AI
14 Articles
14 Articles
Pittsburgh Pirates draft LSU outfielder Derek Curiel fifth overall
Derek Curiel, a sophomore outfielder from LSU, was selected fifth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2026 MLB Draft after helping lead LSU to the 2025 College World Series title and being named the 2025 National Freshman of the Year.
LSU outfielder Derek Curiel selected as the No. 5 pick in the MLB Draft
BATON ROUGE — The Pittsburgh Pirates selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel as the No. 5 pick in the MLB Draft on Saturday.Curiel, as a freshman at the university, started in all 68 games in the 2025 season, batting a team-high of .345 with 20 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 67 runs, leading LSU to the NCAA College World Series National Championship. Curiel finished No. 1 in the SEC in doubles, No. 3 in the league in walks, No.4 in hits and…
·Baton Rouge, United States
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution71% Center
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
71% Center
L 29%
C 71%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
