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Mock draft season kicking into full swing as Rangers predicted to draft SEC outfielder

The LSU Tiger would add some much needed depth at the position
ByJeff Speicher|
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Derek Curiel 6 homerun as the LSU Tigers take on the Southern Jaguars in Baton Rouge, LA. Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Derek Curiel 6 homerun as the LSU Tigers take on the Southern Jaguars in Baton Rouge, LA. Tuesday, March 31, 2026. | SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The SEC is rife with talented young players expected to go in the first round of the 2026 Amateur Draft to be held on June 11-12.

One of them, LSU outfielder Derek Curiel, is being mocked to the Texas Rangers with the 16th overall pick, according to FanSided's first round projections.

Projecting would add much needed OF depth in Rangers' pipeline

At 6-feet-2 inches and 195 pounds, the 20-year-old Curiel was named to Baseball America's preseason All-American first team as an outfielder.

He is currently a sophomore at LSU and is coming off a blistering freshman campaign that saw him slash an impressive .345/.470/.519 while also playing a vital, plus centerfield for the Tigers. So far in 2026, he has been even better, with a .941OPS and just 38 strikeouts in 250 plate appearances.

As of right now, the Rangers don't have any true outfield prospects that are close to being major league-ready. Aside from possibly Aaron Zavala, who had a nice spring session, there is a definite lack of talent in the organization's outfield pool.

Adding the speedy centerfielder would address that need with a high-potential prospect who can also play left field.

Curiel is not a slugger, but has good gap power and plate discipline

Curiel has a .345 career average through one and a half seasons at LSU, so he is a high-contact, low-strikeout hitter who bats left-handed and has tremendous ability to hit to all fields.

In 121 games in college, he has earned 84 free passes, so he has an excellent eye and rarely chases
pitches out of the strike zone.

His ability to drive the ball into the gap has forced LSU head coach Jay Johnson to take him out of the leadoff spot and make him his cleanup hitter back in April of this year. Curiel has thrived moving back in the order, driving in 44 runs and slugging .517.

There is little question that Curiel is ready to take the leap and turn pro, and he would look really good in a Rangers' uniform, albeit after several years at the minor league level to adjust to older, more experienced pitchers.

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