RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesDerek Curiel recently joined the professional ranks after finishing up his second season with LSU baseball. The outfielder is already considered one of the top prospects in the minor league system. Keith Law from The Athletic put Curiel at No. 65 overall on his most recent prospect ranking .
"He brings an unusual combination of contact frequency and contact quality, as he was the only qualifying Division 1 hitter this spring with a whiff rate under 13 percent and a hard-hit rate over 53 percent," Law said. "He’s likely to start his pro career in center field but is a better than even money bet to move to left, which puts pressure on the bat."
Through two seasons in Baton Rouge, Curiel hit .349 with a .975 OPS, 171 hits, 131 runs and 101 RBI. He batted leadoff and started in center field as a true freshman when LSU won the national championship in 2025. As a sophomore, he moved to center field and improved his performance at the plate, maintaining a spot in the top half of the batting order.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Curiel at No. 5 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. He is the fourth former Tiger to be taken within the top five picks since 2023, joining Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews and Kade Anderson.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Where ex-LSU star Derek Curiel ranks on updated MLB prospect list
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