Pirates select Derek Curiel fifth overall in 2026 MLB Draft
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 12, 2026, 1:22 PM
Last updated Jul 12, 2026
The Pittsburgh Pirates completed day one of the 2026 MLB Draft on July 11, selecting Derek Curiel from LSU as their top pick at fifth overall. Curiel, a sophomore outfielder, recorded a.353 average and led LSU in runs and hits this past season. The Pirates also chose Aiden Ruiz, Chris Rembert, and Jason Decaro in later rounds, solidifying their focus on bats and defense. The selection of Curiel surprised many, as expectations leaned towards a pitcher. With a promising skill set, Curiel is expected to advance quickly through the Pirates' system.
- •Derek Curiel is the Pirates' first pick at No. 5.
- •Curiel hit.353 with 64 runs scored this season.
- •Aiden Ruiz and Chris Rembert are also notable picks.
- •Pirates aimed for a balance of offense and defense.
- •Day one selections strengthen the team's future prospects.
- 2:24 PMYahoo Sports — 2026 MLB Draft: Day Two Live Thread
- 1:22 PMYahoo Sports — Pirates 2026 MLB Draft day one recap
"Sunday, July 12: Rounds 5-20 • 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+) Yesterday certainly could have gone better for the Diamond Dores, as no current players were chosen in the first 4 rounds (yeah… we earned that postseason miss this year), but 6 commits were. The latter part of that sentence likely frightens you, but […]
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 12, 2026, 2:24 PM2026 MLB Draft: Day Two Live Thread
Sunday, July 12: Rounds 5-20 • 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+) Yesterday certainly could have gone better for the Diamond Dores, as no current players were chosen in the first 4 rounds (yeah… we earned that postseason miss this year), but 6 commits were. The latter part of that sentence likely frightens you, but […]
- Yahoo SportsJul 12, 2026, 1:22 PMPirates 2026 MLB Draft day one recap
Here’s the day one haul.
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