PHILADELPHIA — The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a great offense this season and they've added a bat they hope will play a big role in the near future.The Pirates selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Curiel was excellent for the Tigers in 2026, slashing .353/.431/.526 for an OPS of .957 in 58 games, with 82 hits, 18 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 46 RBI and 34 walks to 43 strikeouts.He is a great contact hitter, while also impressing in the outfield and with his speed on the base paths, with 13 steals this past season.MLB Pipeline ranks Curiel as the 12th overall prospect and the third best outfield prospect, while Baseball America ranks him as the 10th best prospect and also the third best outfielder. It marks the first college pick for the Pirates since they took right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes, first overall in 2023, also from LSU. It is the first college bat the Pirates have taken since catcher Henry Davis out of Louisville with the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow