Pirates News: Derek Curiel signing, Seth Hernandez injury, Shawn Ross debut

The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially signed first-round pick Derek Curiel, locking up the No. 5 overall selection one day before the deadline for 2026 draft picks to sign.

Curiel received a $6.2 million signing bonus, well below the $8,336,500 slot value attached to the fifth pick. That savings helped Pittsburgh go above slot for several selections later in the draft.

Curiel, a 21-year-old outfielder out of LSU, hit .353 with six home runs and 46 RBI in 2026 after batting .345 as a freshman. While he's not known for big-time power, Curiel is viewed as a polished, well-rounded prospect with strong contact skills, low strikeout totals and the ability to play all three outfield positions. He also has a connection to Pirates star Konnor Griffin, as the two were recruited together by LSU and previously played for the USA U18 national team.

Curiel’s signing means Pittsburgh has now reached agreements with 16 of its 21 draft picks, including every selection from the first 11 rounds. The Pirates used some of the savings from Curiel’s deal to sign Aidan Ruiz, Chris Rembert, Jason DeCaro and Andruw Giles to above-slot bonuses.

Pirates pitching prospects Seth Hernandez, Khristian Curtis suffer injury setbacks

The Pirates are monitoring top pitching prospect Seth Hernandez after the right-hander reported discomfort in his left oblique following his latest start for High-A Greensboro.

Hernandez pitched three innings July 24, allowing one hit while striking out five over 54 pitches. He also hit one batter. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Hernandez’s abbreviated outing was planned and wasn't a result of the discomfort, which the 20-year-old reported the following day.

The Pirates are still evaluating the issue, but Cherington emphasized that it didn't affect Hernandez during the start.

Another Pirates pitching prospect, Khristian Curtis, suffered an injury setback this week at Triple-A Indianapolis and landed on the 7-day injured list with side discomfort. It's a tough break for the right-hander, who dazzled in his MLB debut with the Pirates earlier this month.

Pitching in a bulk relief role in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Curtis tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and issuing just two walks, while posting four strikeouts over 68 pitches. He then returned to Indianapolis, where he gave up three runs over 3.2 innings in his last appearance on Friday before landing on the IL the following day.

Shawn Ross gets first major-league opportunity with Pirates after Rafael Flores Jr. lands on concussion IL

Shawn Ross' road to the major leagues required a lot of things to break his way, but the 26-year-old has officially made it.

Ross debuted Saturday during the Pirates' 11-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs, going 0-for-1 after entering in relief of designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and playing first base in the ninth inning. He is set to make his first major-league start behind the plate Sunday in the series finale.

Signed by Pittsburgh as a non-drafted free agent in 2022, Ross owns just a .188 career average in the minors with a 38.5% strikeout rate. His opportunity came after the Joey Bart trade and injuries to Endy Rodríguez and Rafael Flores Jr. thinned the Pirates' catching depth.

Still, Ross earned his chance. He has worked extensively to improve defensively behind the plate while also adding versatility at first and third base. Whatever happens from here, reaching the majors is a significant accomplishment for an unlikely success story.

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