LSU's Derek Curiel named D1 Baseball SEC Freshman of the Year
LSU continues to pick up the preseason accolades, from being a top team in the country to having multiple preseason All-Americans. This time, one of LSU’s younger names was recognized before his first game as a college player
On Thursday, LSU outfielder Derek Curiel was named the 2025 SEC Preseason Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com.
Curiel, two-time member of the 18U USA National Team, batted .314 with 33 hits – including 10 doubles – 21 RBI and 19 stolen bases in his senior year at Orange Lutheran High School in West Covina, Calif. He was ranked as the No. 10 overall high school player in the country and as the second-best high school player in the state of California by Perfect Game.
Of Curiel, D1 Baseball’s Mark Etheridge writes:
The newcomer burst into the fall and established himself as the team’s top outfielder and is in a position to start somewhere, hit near the top of the lineup, and prove himself as one of the top freshmen in the country. He batted .388 with a .522 on-base percentage this fall.
Baseball America magazine in its scouting report of last summer’s top MLB Draft prospects wrote of Curiel:
Top 10
- 1New
LSU-OU WBB fight
Multiple ejections after dust up
- 2Hot
Pearl needles Alabama
Auburn coach had to say it
- 3
Cam Newton
Arch Manning, Saban to Cowboys
- 4
Arch Manning NIL
Texas QB signs with Red Bull
- 5
ACC, ESPN extension
New deal reached through 2036
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Curiel is an advanced pure hitter whose instincts for the game and sweet lefthanded swing have made him a prospect to know since his high school freshman season. The outfielder had arguably the best swing on an Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High team that also included 2022 first-rounder Mikey Romero. Curiel has one of the more advanced approaches in the class, with excellent vision, swing decisions and pitch recognition that could help him become a plus hitter.
Earlier this month, Perfect Game ranked Curiel No. 1 in its list of the Top 75 Freshmen for the 2025 season. Eight LSU freshmen were included on the list, including Curiel, right-handed pitcher William Schmidt (No. 4), catcher Cade Arrambide (No. 15); right-handed pitcher Casan Evans (No. 26); first baseman Ryan Costello (No. 32); right-handed pitcher Mavrick Rizy (No. 36); left-handed pitcher Cooper Williams (No. 67); and infielder Mikey Ryan (No. 69).
LSU, ranked No. 2 by Baseball America and No. 3 by D1 Baseball in preseason polls, opens the season at 2 p.m. CT on Friday, February 14, when the Tigers play host to Purdue Fort Wayne in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
Baseball America has the Tigers as the No. 2 team in the country and this was their writeup:
“LSU underachieved in 2024 but still reached the NCAA Tournament as a regional No. 2 seed. For 2025, it bolstered its roster by signing nine top-100 transfer players, including pitchers Anthony Eyanson, Jacob Mayers and Zac Cowan, and infielder Daniel Dickinson. While the influx of transfers strengthened the team, success will depend on how quickly they adjust to SEC competition. Dickinson, a key addition, is expected to provide leadership and offensive firepower. LSU aims for a deep run in 2025, with a strong roster but questions about the pitching depth after key departures.”
