Pirates sign Griffin’s buddy and No. 5 overall pick Curiel

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates struck a deal with No. 5 overall pick Derek Curiel late Saturday night, signing the LSU outfielder for $6,200,000, per MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. Curiel’s deal is well under the $8,336,500 slot value allocated for the fifth overall selection.

Curiel’s signing is expected to be formally announced at a press conference Sunday morning at PNC Park.

At 20 years old, Curiel was a Draft-eligible sophomore out of LSU. He won a national title with the Tigers in 2025 and became the first college bat to be selected in the first round by the Pirates since Henry Davis at No. 1 overall in 2021.

Curiel was a highly touted high school recruit but withdrew his name from the 2024 MLB Draft to join the Tigers and increase his size. He added 20 pounds of muscle, said LSU strength coach Chris Martin, and increased his bench press maximum from 135 to 250 pounds in two years.

Curiel is a good friend of Pittsburgh’s 2024 top selection and current starting shortstop Konnor Griffin. The pair played together for U-18 Team USA, and even visited the Roberto Clemente Museum on Thursday.

Here’s where the Pirates' Draft class currently stands as of Sunday morning with just a day to go until the signing deadline:

• Round 1: OF Derek Curiel: $6,200,000
• Round 2: INF Aiden Ruiz: $3,500,000
• Round 2 SUP: INF Chris Rembert: $2,397,500
• Round 3: RHP Jason DeCaro: $1,297,500
• Round 4: OF Andruw Giles: $1,000,000
• Round 5: LHP Ryan Marohn: $532,000
• Round 6: RHP Tyler Fay: $342,500
• Round 7: RHP Bryson Moore: $305,000
• Round 8: RHP Alex Overbay: $222,500
• Round 9: INF Tre Phelps III: $202,500
• Round 10: RHP Michael Gibson: $17,500
• Round 11: LHP Spencer Evans: $300,000
• Round 12: RHP Rohan Lettow: Unsigned
• Round 13: RHP Griffin Stieg: $150,000
• Round 14: RHP Damarcus Rideout-Carter: Unsigned
• Round 15: RHP Liam O'Leary: $150,000
• Round 16: RHP Grant Govel: Unsigned
• Round 17: RHP Nathan Helman: $25,000
• Round 18: OF Malachi Washington: Unsigned
• Round 19: OF Andrew Duncan: Unsigned
• Round 20: LHP Dakota Stone: $100,000