Pirates Draft Derek Curiel in the First Round
The LSU centerfielder receives high grades for his hit tool, speed, and defense.
The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Curiel received the following rankings:
12th overall by MLB Pipeline
10th by Baseball America
10th by ESPN
15th by FanGraphs.
He received grades in the 45-55 Future Value range, and is seen as a safer option more than an upside option.
FanGraphs gave him a 70 grade on speed, making him the second fastest player in their rankings. He also projects as an above-average fielder in the future, giving him a combination to stick in center field long-term.
The other standout is the hit tool. FanGraphs graded him with a 60 future value, giving him the fourth highest upside hit tool of the draft. Curiel lacks power, only receiving future 35 grades, which is well below average.
MLB Pipeline gave his hit tool a 60, power a more optimistic 45, run at a lower 55 grade, and field at 55. FanGraphs had him as a 45 value, while Pipeline was more optimistic about him as a 55 FV, likely due to the higher power grade.
Derek Curiel Tools:
Hit (60 FG / 60 MLB)
Power (35 FG / 45 MLB)
Run (70 FG / 55 MLB)
Field (55 FG / 55 MLB)
Overall (45 FG / 55 MLB)
The Pipeline scouting report did raise questions about Curiel’s power potential in the future:
A lean left-handed hitter with excellent bat-to-ball skills, Curiel uses a fluid stroke and mature approach to spray hard line drives all over the field. His swing is somewhat flat and he may not have more than average strength or bat speed, so he might not deliver more than 12-15 homers per season. He resembles Christian Yelich at the same age, though scouts are skeptical that Curiel can match the power gains Yelich made later in his career.
While scouts debate how much pop Curiel will have, there are fewer concerns about his ability to stay in center field. Though he played left field as a freshman, he has solid speed and looks more comfortable tracking balls up the middle. His arm is fringy but playable in center.
Curiel is a draft eligible sophomore. He hit .353/.431/.526 this year for LSU with six home runs. Those numbers were similar to his .345/.470/.519 line with seven homers as a freshman. He stole 13 bases in 15 attempts this year, which was an improvement over his 3-for-6 as a freshman.
FanGraphs provided grades on Pitch Selection, which tracks patience, approach, and ball/strike recognition. Curiel received a 55 grade. There were only 18 players with a 55 grade or higher in their rankings. From that group only second overall pick Grady Emerson had a hit tool FV that matched Curiel.
This pick looks like the Pirates went more for a higher floor than a higher upside. Curiel’s power will limit that upside, but his speed, defense, and hit tool will give him an easier path to the majors. He profiles as a speedy centerfielder who can hit for average.
It seems like the Pirates could be saving some money by selecting Curiel at fifth overall. They traded the 34th overall pick on Friday night, which lowered their overall bonus pool. If Curiel ends up under-slot, they can still afford to go over-slot in the middle rounds.
The Pirates Prospects Draft Pick Signing Tracker is updated with the selection. Pirates Prospects will have live updates with every pick over the next two days. Draft analysis can be found here at Pittsburgh Baseball Live.
The next selection by the Pirates is the 44th overall pick in the second round…
-Tim Williams