Pirates Bolster Roster With Shortstop Ruiz and Outfielder Curiel

WHO:

MLB.com - Aiden Ruiz won the Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year award following his 2025 season at The Stony Brook School in New York.

Bucs Dugout - Derek Curiel was the first player drafted in 2026 from the LSU program.

MLB.com - The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Aiden Ruiz and Derek Curiel in the 2026 MLB Draft.

MLB.com - Aiden Ruiz is a high school shortstop and Derek Curiel is an outfielder from LSU.

MLB.com - Chris Rembert was also selected by the Pirates in the Draft.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel was regarded as one of the best hitters in the draft.

WHAT:

MLB.com - Ruiz is listed at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds and is a switch-hitter and switch-thrower.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel batted .390 in the NCAA tournament during his freshman year at LSU.

MLB.com - The Pirates selected Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick and Aiden Ruiz with the 44th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

MLB.com - Ruiz was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 32 Draft prospect.

MLB.com - Curiel batted .353 with a .975 OPS in two seasons at LSU.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel hit 6 home runs and had 46 RBIs in the previous season.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel stole 13 bases in 15 attempts during the last season.

WHERE:

MLB.com - Ruiz played at The Stony Brook School in New York.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel played for LSU, a powerhouse baseball program.

WHEN:

MLB.com - The 2026 MLB Draft took place on a Saturday.

MLB.com - The Draft Combine occurred last month prior to the Draft.

WHY:

MLB.com - The Pirates selected Curiel as he was considered a high-floor player with the potential to help at a position of need.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel was chosen due to his excellent bat-to-ball skills and ability to play center field.

HOW:

MLB.com - Ruiz practiced with his father, Samuel, who played in the Minor Leagues with the White Sox in the 1980s, to develop his skills.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel's play style is influenced by his father's admiration for Pete Rose, who began showing him highlights of Rose when Curiel was around 5 years old.

MLB.com - Ruiz developed his skills by practicing with his father and studying old films of notable players.

Bucs Dugout - Curiel's selection was influenced by his performance at LSU, where he was the leading hitter on a College World Series championship team.

Aiden Ruiz has been honored with the Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year award after an impressive 2025 season at The Stony Brook School in New York, where he showcased his skills as a switch-hitter and switch-thrower, standing at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds. Meanwhile, Derek Curiel made headlines as the first player drafted in 2026 from the LSU program, having batted an impressive .390 during his freshman year in the NCAA tournament. Curiel's play style is shaped by his father's admiration for Pete Rose, who began sharing highlights of the legendary player with him when he was just five years old, while Ruiz honed his skills alongside his father, Samuel, who played in the Minor Leagues with the White Sox in the 1980s.