Pittsburgh Pirates’ Derek Curiel is learning the layout of Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida.
Last month’s fifth overall selection by the Pirates in the annual MLB Draft, Curiel, like most rookies who report to the club’s “Southern Home,” needs a few days to find out where things are located. He’s enjoying some of his downtime from hitting in the batting cages, putting time in the weight room, or roaming the fields that are busy during spring training by being a regular in the complex game room.
On this Wednesday afternoon, while sharing a conference room just across from the front desk in the Pirate City lobby, talking with me about beginning his journey as a pro, his lunch delivery arrives. Today, Chipotle is Curiel’s choice. He patiently sets aside the bag and appears as comfortable in his surroundings as a long-term tenant would.
When the front-desk attendant heads out for her lunch break and a replacement takes over, she nonchalantly offers a goodbye to Derek, like how coworkers or friends have learned to recognize one another. Curiel is officially in a place where everyone already knows his name.
Mingling with the other Pirates occupying a room in the complex, Curiel genuinely looks forward to shooting pool, entering a ping pong challenge, or playing video games. Forget that after being selected by the Pirates during the Draft in Philadelphia, multiple reports have Curiel signing for a $6 million-plus bonus. Away from the media spotlight in Pittsburgh, Curiel appears content to be an anonymous teammate.
The idea of being a full-time professional baseball player is taking time to sink in for Curiel.
“I was at PNC Park for a week. It didn’t quite fully set in until a couple of days into this,” Curiel said of his arrival to Pirate City. “I could do this (playing baseball) every day, and it’s such a blessing. I have no more school. Until I was drafted, my whole life has centered around it; alright, school is going to start. Since I’ve been in Florida, it has hit me in a really good way. I have one job to concentrate on from now on.”
Two years, and 126 games playing for coach Jay Johnson at Louisiana State University, this is when scouts began being very interested in the budding outfielder. Registering a .349 average and a .975 OPS, Curiel, to no surprise, became the latest LSU alum to be courted by MLB franchises.
Paul Skenes (Pirates 2023 No. 1 draft selection), Dylan Crews (Washington Nationals top draft pick in 2023), Kade Anderson (Seattle Mariners 2025 No.1 draft pick) all have had coach Johnson’s tutelage, and now they have been positioned for the opportunities of lengthy MLB careers.
“(Johnson) does a great job in developing hitters and pitchers. I give him, and the people he brings in, all the credit.”
One player that got away from LSU is current Pirate Konnor Griffin. Signing with Pittsburgh in 2024 out of high school, the offer made to the Florence, Mississippi native was too attractive to pass up. However, before becoming a Pittsburgh No. 1 draft pick, Griffin and Curiel had a history together.
“We’ve known each other for a while now,” Curiel recalls. “It was through the summer circuit when we first met. (Griffin) was always the top guy. We were fortunate to be teammates and roomed with each other.”
Curiel and Griffin played together in 2023 for the United States National Baseball Under-18 team at the Baseball World Cup in Taiwan. This is when Curiel tells of growing close to the Pittsburgh shortstop.
“Being in the same organization now, Konnor’s been very helpful. He’s been checking in on me. Pro ball is a grind, and he’s already been giving me tips. I appreciate it.”
With his family expected to visit Bradenton in two weeks, Curiel appears very happy with his surroundings. He smiles when telling of a party his parents and sister threw for him on Draft Day back home in California. Not being in Philadelphia when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced his name as the Pirates' selection, Curiel was content to “have a blast” with friends and family on his home turf.
As for the humidity of Southwest Florida, it isn’t an inconvenience for Curiel.
“I spent two years in Baton Rouge, where it’s pretty muggy there. Baseball is meant to be played in the heat. I like my muscles to be loose, and sweating a little is okay.”
As our conversation ends and we exit the conference room, Curiel makes a right turn leading to the game room. Eating and hanging out with other new residents in the complex and possibly setting up another ping pong challenge is all in the day of a young man gifted to play baseball, just learning the layout of his current home away from his future home – in Pittsburgh, that is.
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