How Curiel's time at LSU transformed him into Pirates' CF of the future

PITTSBURGH -- Derek Curiel knew he needed more time and muscle before becoming a professional. While Konnor Griffin, now the Pirates' shortstop, signed with Pittsburgh out of high school rather than stick with his commitment to LSU, Curiel went the opposite route.

The outfielder pulled his name from the 2024 MLB Draft, trusting himself to develop better with the Tigers in the SEC.

“This legitimately, for this player, was the plan. And he executed it,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson told MLB.com.

The Pirates selected Curiel fifth overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, despite Curiel being ranked as the No. 12 player in the class, per MLB Pipeline. Johnson said the Pirates were the first team in the order to have interest. The Orioles were the next option at No. 7, and if he got past the Rockies at No. 10, Curiel could’ve considered returning to Baton Rouge for his junior campaign.

Curiel and Griffin played together on U18 Team USA and committed to the same 2024 class at LSU. After putting on 20 pounds in the last two years, Curiel’s time is now, and he’ll reunite with Griffin in Pittsburgh.

“Two completely different career paths,” Curiel said. “[Griffin] was ready for the Minor Leagues right out of high school, and it showed. For me, I wasn't. I needed that development in college. It paid off.”

When Griffin committed to LSU a few months after Curiel in 2022, Curiel texted Johnson, voicing his excitement. While Curiel manned right field for U18 Team USA, Griffin was right next to him in center.

The two have stayed in touch over the years as they’ve gone their separate routes. Griffin’s father, Kevin, would text Johnson about Curiel’s success as a freshman in 2025. And on the morning of the Draft, Griffin texted Curiel to wish him good luck. The duo hoped they’d one day reunite on the diamond.

“[Curiel] knew he needed to go to college and get bigger, get stronger and I respect that a lot. He didn’t just fall to getting drafted,” Griffin said.

Orange Lutheran High School (Calif.) current head coach RJ Farrell still believes Curiel could have been successful in the Minor Leagues had he gone straight from high school. LSU assistant coach Jamie Tutko said there were questions surrounding Curiel whether or not he would be able to withstand 140-plus games in the Minors as a teenager, though.

To reach his highest potential, college was the best option to put more focus on gaining muscle.

“It had zero to do with baseball,” Johnson said. “It had to do with just developing physically in the weight room.”

LSU strength coach Chris Martin said Curiel went with a “straightforward process” in growing his muscle mass, increasing his meals per day and hitting the weight room hard. The Tigers tested Curiel’s counter movement jumps on a force plate weekly to see his improvements, and in just two years, Curiel went from struggling to bench 135 pounds to hitting a personal record of 250.

“He was a little bit undersized when he got here. I don't think that's a secret,” Martin said. “And so for him, a guy that's that talented and that gifted, we were just trying to build a bigger engine.”

Johnson began recruiting Curiel when he was in seventh grade. While Johnson was still the head coach at Arizona, he watched clips of Curiel online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson recalls thinking of Ichiro Suzuki as a player comparison at the time. After coaching him for two years with the Tigers, he sees Curiel’s offensive game as similar to Luis Arraez, with more strength and speed.

Ask Curiel who he plays like, and you’ll be transported back 50 years to the Big Red Machine. Curiel takes after his father’s favorite player, Pete Rose, saying he likes to get dirty and bunt, studying Rose’s highlights since he was five.

“He just absolutely gets after it,” Farrell said. “He'll put his body on the line. He'll slide hard. He'll do everything he needs to win a baseball game.”

Curiel was placed directly into the fire as a freshman, leading off for the National Championship squad. Johnson played Curiel in left field instead of center, hoping to take some of the weight off his shoulders. It worked as Curiel was named the D1Baseball National Freshman of the Year before moving to center field as a sophomore.

Curiel continues to mature physically, and it’s led to exit velocity increases. Martin expects Curiel to add even more weight before he reaches the Major Leagues.

If the last two years are any indication, Curiel should be just fine.