​Former LSU baseball stars Derek Curiel and Jake Brown hear their names get called on Saturday during the 2026 MLB Draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates took Curiel at No. 5 overall while the Seattle Mariners grabbed Brown at No. 65 overall.Both organizations are familiar with talented players coming out of head coach Jay Johnson’s LSU program. The Pirates picked right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes with the first overall pick in 2023, then the Mariners took left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson with the third overall pick.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCuriel and Skenes didn’t have crossover at LSU but will certainly spend time together at the next level. The Pirates are not afraid to move their prospects through the minor leagues quickly, evidenced by Skenes’ quick jump to the top level. He recently earned his third All-Star designation. Scouts like Curiel’s versatility in the outfield and patience at the plate, which could bode well for his ascent through the system.Anderson and Brown were teammates at LSU for two years, linking up to win the national championship in 2025 before Anderson headed to the MLB. Now, they’ll be in the same minor league system for at least a little bit. Anderson continues to impress in his first full season of professional baseball so it wouldn’t be surprising if the southpaw makes his MLB debut sooner rather than later.Brown, ranked the No. 59 draft prospect by MLB, became a full-time outfielder in Baton Rouge. He improved at the plate over the three years he spent with the Tigers. It remains to be seen what his trajectory at the next level will look like in the Mariners’ system.This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Derek Curiel, Jake Brown join former LSU stars with MLB organizations