​LSU baseball outfielder Derek Curiel has been a standout for Jay Johnson’s program since he first arrived on campus two years ago. A highly touted recruit from Orange Lutheran High School in West Covina, California, many believed Curiel would pursue a path to professional baseball after high school. But Johnson and his staff were able to persuade him to join LSU, a decision that has paid off in numerous ways.
In his two seasons with the Tigers, Curiel has posted an impressive career batting average of .349 and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .975. He has cleared the long ball 13 times and racked up 38 doubles, while scoring 131 runs and driving in 101 over 126 games for LSU. His production has helped shape LSU’s offense as it continues to compete at the highest levels of college baseball.
Coverage on LSU baseball and Derek Curiel has included projections for the MLB Draft, highlighting Curiel among LSU’s notable stars. Here are three essential takeaways about Curiel as he has developed in Baton Rouge.
From the outset, the plan was for Curiel to patrol center field in LSU’s lineup. Yet Johnson chose to ease him into the role as a freshman, allowing him to spend the season in left field, where he did not commit a single error. He appeared in all 68 games that year, contributing to the Tigers’ push toward a national championship and ultimately helping LSU win its eighth national title in program history.
Last season, Curiel moved to center field and recorded two errors, but still posted a sterling fielding percentage of .985. After fall practice in October, Curiel revealed in a May radio interview that he had broken his left ankle during the offseason. He explained that the injury occurred in November and that it affected how he loaded into his back leg as he prepared for the season. Despite the setback, Curiel highlighted his resilience, noting that he maintained his progress and refused to let the injury derail his development.
On the field, Curiel’s freshman-year impact was enormous. He led LSU with a batting average of .345 and contributed 20 doubles, seven home runs, 55 RBIs and 67 runs, earning National Freshman of the Year honors from D1 Baseball and earning consensus Freshman All-American status. His decision to attend college rather than pursue an immediate pro career out of high school was widely discussed, and his standout debut season in 2025 validated that choice.
As Curiel continues to grow with LSU, his performance has solidified his status as one of the program’s premier players. For The Daily Advertiser, Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers’ athletics, providing in-depth reporting on Curiel and the wider LSU baseball landscape. If you have questions about LSU athletics, you can reach Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com. This article originated on Lafayette D and has been optimized for better SEO, with a minimum length of 500 words.