Derek Curiel looks like a lead-off hitter.
He’s svelte. He’s fast. He plays center field.
He does everything you want your classic lead-off hitter to do. He hits for average – .350 this season and .345 last year to lead the national champions. He hits a lot of doubles – 20 last year to lead the team and eight this season. He walks a lot – 20 this year and 53 last year for first on the team – to set the table for hitters who follow him. He works the count brilliantly to give those behind him a good look at a pitcher’s repertoire. He has the most stolen bases on the team this season with 10 in 11 tries.
But he is also stealth. He can hit with power on occasion like someone larger. He had seven home runs last year. He has four this season. He already has 33 RBIs in 2026 and had 55 last year. Curiel also has two grand slams in his last two games, including one Friday night to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning at Tennessee on their way to a 7-5 win. He hit one Tuesday night in a 16-6 win over Southern.
No LSU player has hit grand slams in back-to-back games since non-lead-off hitter Sean Ochinko in the 2009 national championship season in 19-3 and 10-4 wins over Mississippi Valley State and UNO.
LSU spots another team a comfortable lead, but comes back to win at Tennessee w/grand slam by Derek Curiel.https://t.co/9QtxJ985DE
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) April 4, 2026
LSU has some larger guys who play first base and third in Zach Yorke and John Pearson, who look the part more of a typical cleanup hitter.
Tony Vitello and Jay Johnson have the last 3 national championships in college baseball. Will they be the first 2 to jump immediately from college to MLB manager jobs? COLUMN:https://t.co/BRzSMknaB8
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) April 3, 2026
But LSU coach Jay Johnson doesn’t coach, or manage to use a Major League Baseball term, in typical fashion.
“I’ve always had like a little bit of a quote-unquote non-traditional cleanup hitter,” Johnson said after the game Friday. “What I call a balanced-attack player can take advantage of situations when their at-bats are no different, whether there’s nobody on base or there is somebody on base. And Derek fits that. He’s the perfect example of a balanced-attack player.”
Or, he can just flat hit. And often in the cleanup position it’s best just to have a guy who can hit, as opposed to focusing on home runs or looks.
Since Johnson moved Curiel to the cleanup spot on March 24, Curiel is 11-for-24 for a .458 average with 15 RBIs and three home runs. And LSU (21-10, 5-5 Southeastern Conference) is 5-1 over that span going into Saturday’s 5 p.m. game at Tennessee (19-11, 3-7 SEC) on ESPN2.
There was a lot going on at Will Wade’s introductory press conference, other than re-introducing Wade. … Only at LSU. Column:https://t.co/6GmHQK0FHt
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) April 3, 2026
Can you smell a sweep? It’s hard not to think of a sweep after winning a series opener against a team that is reeling. The Vols have lost four straight SEC games with three on walk-offs, and they led this one 4-1 going into the eighth.
But with LSU missing third weekend starter Cooper Moore because of a triceps injury, just winning the series will be a major accomplishment on the road. And LSU’s pitching looks strong going into Saturday for the series win. Johnson and pitching coach Nate Yeskie were able to get a win Friday with five pitchers, while still saving key relievers Zac Cowan (1-0, 4.38 ERA, 1 save) and Grant Fontenot (0-0, 1.93 ERA).
And Mavrick Rizy (0-0, 3.71 ERA) threw only 24 pitches in two-thirds of an inning, while lefty Santiago Garcia (1-0, 4.22), who got the win, threw just 10 pitches in an inning and a third.
Saturday starter William Schmidt (4-1, 2.55 ERA) has been pitching more like a Friday night guy than has Friday night starter Casan Evans (2-1, 4.97 ERA). He will face sophomore right-hander Tegan Kuhns (1-3, 4.08 ERA).
After that, LSU will go with junior right-hander Gavin Guidry (3-3, 6.64 ERA) in the noon game on Sunday against senior left-hander Evan Bianco (2-2, 4.00 ERA).
Guidry has struggled so far this season and appears to be best as a short reliever, so Sunday may be his last chance to make his mark as a starter. And if LSU’s offense keeps rolling, a sweep could happen.
“Our team is gaining confidence,” Johnson said. “And they should be confident in any situation, including coming from behind to win.”
LSU has done that from significant deficits in three straight now.
“It’s a good example of the character of our team,” Johnson said. “And it’s especially impressive to do it on the road.”
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