Pirates draft LSU outfielder Derek Curiel at No. 5 overall
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on July 11 in Philadelphia. Derek Curiel becomes the headline first-round departure from Jay Johnson's Tigers, and the pick lands with a Pirates organization that has had plenty of recent draft success and wants this year's class to extend that run.
Key Takeaways
- The Pirates took LSU outfielder Derek Curiel at No. 5 overall on July 11 in Philadelphia.
- Pittsburgh has had strong recent MLB Draft results and wants this year's class to keep that momentum going.
- LSU coach Jay Johnson expects maybe one Tiger in the first round, and his roster is built to absorb that loss.
- Rounds 1-4 opened Saturday at noon; rounds 5-20 continue Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Why did the Pirates draft Derek Curiel at No. 5?
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates made Curiel their top selection from Philadelphia on July 11. The paper opens its draft coverage by noting Pittsburgh has had plenty of success in the MLB Draft in recent years, and the organization hopes this year's selections can continue that run.
MLB.com reported the pick as the fifth overall selection in the 2026 draft, pairing Pittsburgh with an LSU outfielder as the first round got underway.
What does Derek Curiel leaving mean for LSU?
For LSU, the pick aligns with what coach Jay Johnson had been signaling ahead of the draft. In an interview reported by NOLA.com, Johnson said he thinks LSU has maybe only one player who will go in the first round this year. Curiel's name at No. 5 fits that forecast.
Johnson also stressed that LSU will not be overly relying on the draft to fill key roster needs. The Tigers retained most of the pieces they wanted back, added eight players from the transfer portal, and still have a deep high-school signing class. Johnson expects about 14 of 22 signees to reach campus even after draft losses.
That depth changes the emotional math of draft night. Losing Derek Curiel stings, but Johnson entered the weekend feeling good about the offseason and where his team stands heading into next year.
When does the rest of the 2026 MLB Draft continue?
If you are tracking every pick after Curiel went off the board, the schedule breaks into two live windows. NOLA.com reports that rounds 1-4 began Saturday at noon, with rounds 5-20 set for Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
For live updates, alerts, and watch-info roundups as the board moves, bookmark our Streaming & TV Alerts hub. MLB.com also carries official draft coverage at its 2026 draft news page.
Why should fans keep watching after the first round?
Johnson told NOLA.com that more than $350 million will be paid out in this draft class, creating wiggle room for teams to spend heavily in rounds two and three. He noted that teams could pay players $2 million or more in those rounds, and LSU has signees capable of commanding that kind of bonus.
For Pittsburgh, the Curiel pick opens a draft weekend the Post-Gazette frames around years of recent MLB Draft success — and whether this year's selections can keep that streak going.