Pittsburgh Pirates land Derek Curiel at No. 5 in 2026 MLB Draft

Who did the Pittsburgh Pirates draft in 2026?

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened the 2026 MLB Draft by taking LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick. Pittsburgh now owns seven straight Top-10 selections and has five picks inside the Top 110. The draft ran July 12-13 in Philadelphia during All-Star festivities.

What happened in the first round?

Pittsburgh started fast by landing Curiel, who batted .353 last season with 82 hits, 18 doubles, and six homers in 232 at-bats. The Bucs now have three straight first-rounders who could reach Pittsburgh soon: Paul Skenes (2023 Cy Young winner), Konnor Griffin (2024), and Seth Hernandez (2025).

Which second-tier Pirates picks stood out?

With the 44th pick, Pittsburgh took switch-hitting shortstop Aiden Ruiz, called by MLB scouts the best defensive shortstop in the class. The Bucs then grabbed Auburn second baseman Chris Rembert at 51st overall after he hit .343 with 80 hits, four homers, and 46 RBIs in 2025-26.

How did the Pirates attack pitching?

Pittsburgh loaded up early on arms, starting with North Carolina righty Jason DeCaro in the third round. DeCaro went 11-3 with a 2.87 ERA and 99 strikeouts over 97.1 innings in 2026. The run continued with lefty Ryan Marohn (sixth round, 6-1, 62 strikeouts) and Tyler Fay (sixth round, 2026 All-SEC second-team).

Who else joined the Pirates’ 2026 haul?

The Bucs added righty Bryson Moore in the seventh round and Alex Overbay in the eighth; Overbay is the son of ex-Pirate Lyle Overbay. Pittsburgh closed the early rounds by taking Georgia third baseman Tre Phelps, who hit .348 with 19 homers and 59 RBIs last year.

Why does this draft matter for the Bucs?

With an 8th-place finish in the National League at 50-47 and winners of three straight, Pittsburgh needs fresh talent. The Pirates’ farm system already ranks among baseball’s best, and this haul—five Top-110 picks—could push reinforcements to the majors by 2027.

What’s next for the Pirates?

Pittsburgh wraps the draft with Rounds 5-20 on Sunday. The club will now shift focus to player development, hoping Curiel and Ruiz can quickly climb the minors after their strong college showings.