Derek Curiel
American baseball player (born 2005)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Derek Boaz Curiel (born May 24, 2005) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
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| Derek Curiel | |
|---|---|
Curiel at the White House in 2025 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: May 24, 2005 Baldwin Park, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| Stats at Baseball Reference |
Amateur career
Curiel grew up in West Covina, California and attended Orange Lutheran High School.[1] He committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University (LSU) as a sophomore and was rated the top collegiate prospect in the nation by Perfect Game.[2] Curiel batted .358 with eight doubles and 15 stolen bases during his junior season.[3] He played for the United States national baseball team in the 2023 U-18 Baseball World Cup and hit .240 over nine games.[4] Curiel batted .314 as a senior.[5] While initially considered one of the better high school prospects for the 2024 MLB Draft, Curiel's stock fell during his senior year.[6][7] He ultimately decided to withdraw from the draft and enroll at LSU.[8]
Curiel entered his freshman season with the LSU Tigers in 2025 as their starting left fielder.[9][10] He played in 68 games and batted .345 with seven home runs and 55 RBI, helping lead the Tigers to a win in the 2025 Men's College World Series.[11]
Curiel entered his sophomore season in 2026 as a top prospect for the upcoming MLB draft.[12][13][14] He appeared in 58 games and hit .353 with six home runs, 46 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.[15]
Professional career
Curiel was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft.[16][17][18] He signed with the Pirates for a $6.2 million signing bonus.[19]