Derek Curiel

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #3 prospect in 2026 draft
  School:LSU Age At Draft: 21.1
  
  Drafted: Never Drafted
  
  Curiel was one of the more highly-touted freshmen to make it to campus, and he lived up to the hype and then some. As an everyday member of LSU’s starting lineup, Curiel hit .345/.470/.519 with 29 extra-base hits, 55 RBIs and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 56-to-53. Curiel has been known for his advanced hittability dating back to his days as a prepster, and his hit tool grades out as plus. He has a simple, rhythmic operation in which he takes a direct path to contact and sprays line drives to all parts of the field. Curiel has outstanding bat-to-ball skills and posted a 94% overall in-zone contact rate, including 97% against fastballs. The biggest question mark with Curiel is how much impact he’ll grow into. He has played mostly left field this spring, but he has above-average instincts and takes crisp, efficient routes to the baseball. Curiel next spring is projected to take over center field where he has a chance to be an impact defender.
• Ranked #5 prospect in 2026 draft
  School: LSU Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.1
  
  Curiel had a longstanding reputation as a pure hitter and advanced player in all phases of the game as a Southern California high schooler. His stock slipped in his draft year, and he wound up withdrawing from the 2024 draft and heading to campus at LSU as one of the most highly-touted freshmen in the country. He lived up to his billing as a pure hitter and slashed .345/.470/.519 with seven home runs and 20 doubles as the team’s leadoff man and everyday left fielder. Curiel is a potential plus hitter with a simple, rhythmic operation and clean lefthanded swing that leads to plenty of contact and hard line drives to all parts of the field. His bat-to-ball skills are excellent, but there are questions about how much power he’ll develop. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Curiel has a lean frame that might never add a huge amount of physicality, meaning he could be limited to below-average or fringy power production. Curiel isn’t a burner, but he’s a solid runner and an extremely instinctual outfield defender. He’s expected to move from left field to center field for LSU in 2026 and should be a good enough defender to stick there with a solid, accurate throwing arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #13 prospect in 2024

• 2024 High School Top 100 Draft Prospects
  School: Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS Committed: LSU
  Age At Draft: 19.2
  Curiel has an ease of operation to his game that stands out at the plate and in the field. He has a calm, balanced swing that’s quick, fluid and direct to the ball with good bat control and strike-zone discipline. His contact rate stacks up among the best in the 2024 class with good plate coverage and a knack for going with where the ball is pitched to use the whole field. Curiel has a wiry frame that he has started to add strength to, which has helped him generate more bat speed and extra-base damage at times. He’s still listed at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds and scouts do wonder how much physicality and strength he’ll pack on in the future, and therefore what his power upside might be. It’s his on-base skills that stand out more than his power, but he drives the ball well during BP, and there could be another uptick in power once he fills out and learns which pitches to try to drive for pull-side damage in the air. He’s been a plus runner in the past, but in the 2023 showcase season he more frequently turned in average run times from home to first. Curiel has above-average center field instincts and glides around the outfield with an easy stride, efficient routes and has an average, accurate arm. He is committed to LSU.