TIGER RAG NEWS SERVICES
LSU outfielder Derek Curiel was named a 2026 preseason first team All-American by Baseball America magazine on Tuesday.
“Curiel’s reputation as an advanced pure hitter dates back to his freshman season in high school,” Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo wrote. “As a freshman with LSU, Curiel hit .345 with seven home runs and 20 doubles. As a draft-eligible sophomore, Curiel will slide from left to center where his crisp route-running and solid instincts should allow him to stick long term.”
Baseball America in its “Best Scouting Tools” summary rated Curiel as the No. 1 Pure Hitter in college baseball.
Zach Yorke is a big reason why LSU should hit more than 103 home runs (39th in the country last year with 1.5 a game) this season:https://t.co/WofCW2UxAb
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) February 2, 2026
A sophomore from West Covina, California, Curiel was voted the 2025 national Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com after helping lead the Tigers to the national title. A 2025 second team All-America, first team freshman All-American and second team All-SEC choice, Curiel drove in 55 runs and scored 67.
He was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team after collecting six hits, three RBIs and three runs in LSU’s five games. Curiel hit a team-high .571 in the NCAA Super Regional sweep of West Virginia with one double, one homer, five RBIs and six runs.
LSU opens its 2026 season on Friday, February 13, at 2 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium against Milwaukee.
TRANSFER BRAYDEN SIMPSON NAMED NUMBER 5 SECOND BASEMAN
LSU senior transfer Brayden Simpson was listed as the No. 5 second baseman in the country by D1 Baseball’s list of the top 50 at the position entering the 2026 season.
Simpson three seasons at High Point prior to transferring to LSU, batting .323 (171-for-530) in his career with 46 doubles, two triples, 37 homers, 136 RBIs, 143 runs and 29 stolen bases. He is competing with senior returnee Tanner Reaves and senior transfer Seth Dardar of Kansas State at second base with the Tigers.
Simpson was voted a third team All-American last year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and first team All-Big South after hitting .389 (91-for-234) with 24 doubles, 22 homers, 78 RBIs, 75 runs and 14 stolen bases. He was in the top 10 in the nation in doubles (24), slugging percentage (.774), total bases (181) and RBIs (78).
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