Paul Skenes just fueled huge expectations for Pirates' first-round pick

The Pittsburgh Pirates' selection of Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft raised some eyebrows. At the time that the pick was made, it seemed like a bit of a reach for a "safe" prospect, rather than a player with star-level potential that you'd expect to be taken so high. Compounding the frustration was the presence of a handful of other, more exciting prospects on the board.

With that said, there might be more than meets the eye. In fact, the more you mull it, the more you might like the pick. If you're still on the fence, take a gander at what Paul Skenes has to say regarding the young outfielder.

"He reminds me of Konnor [Griffin]. Really good head on his shoulders, really sharp kid, plays the game the right way. I’m excited to play with him," Skenes said via Jason Mackey.

Any comparison to Konnor Griffin is a favorable one, and while the Pirates' phenom has drawn a lot of attention for his tools, it was his attitude, work ethic, and feel for the game that had him labeled as an enticing prospect. Curiel has a similar makeup.

Derek Curiel's mental makeup could make the Pirates' draft pick a future star despite the criticism

Curiel and Griffin know each other well as former teammates on the U18 Team USA squad. Coming out of high school, Curiel originally entered the 2024 MLB Draft, too, but ultimately withdrew. At that young age, he had the maturity to understand that if he was eventually going to realize his dream of playing in the majors, there was more work to be done. That included getting stronger.

“Two completely different career paths,” Curiel said. “[Griffin] was ready for the Minor Leagues right out of high school, and it showed. For me, I wasn't. I needed that development in college. It paid off.”

Curiel's commitment to development allowed him to put on 20 pounds of muscle during his time at LSU. It's made him a better prospect as a result, and while there are still some mechanical tweaks necessary for him to be a consistent power threat, he now possesses the raw power to eventually become a plus in that department.

That's just one example of his dedication to his craft. That motivation and desire also translate into the way he plays the game.

Curiel has said he models his game after Pete Rose and studied Rose highlights since he was a young child. Rose obviously is a complicated figure in baseball history, but as a player, he was nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" for a reason. It seems that Curiel has internalized that mentality and applies it to everything he does, whether it's getting stronger in the weight room, sacrificing his body to make a spectacular catch in the outfield, or going all out to take the extra base on the basepaths.

That's the truly exciting thing. There might be players with louder tools, but not everyone has the motivation to maximize the talent they have. In fact, we've often seen the opposite, where a guy plays below what one would think his natural ability dictates.

Of course, it's important not to go overboard here, either. While the work ethic and feel for the game are great, it's inaccurate to take that to the extreme and overlook the tools Curiel does have. He was still one of the highest-regarded prospects in the class because of his physical ability, and like Griffin, his mentality could allow him to reach and maximize his ceiling faster than most. We might ultimately look back and realize the Pirates got a steal here.

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