LSU sophomore centerfielder Derek Curiel has been included on the Watch List for the 2026 Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award. The award winner will be announced in June and recognized at a gala event later in the year in Fort Worth, Texas.
Curiel is following in the footsteps of LSU outfielder Dylan Crews, who received the Bragan Award in 2023. The award was first introduced in 2017 and recognizes players based on their performance at bat, academic achievements, and personal integrity.
Curiel comes from West Covina, California. He was named the 2025 National Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com after contributing to LSU’s NCAA National Championship win during his first season. In 2025, he also earned Second-Team All-America honors, was selected for First-Team Freshman All-America, Second-Team All-SEC, and made the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll. Curiel led his team with a .345 batting average, recording 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 55 RBIs, and scoring 67 runs.
Fans can find updates about the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award and weekly honorees throughout the season at www.braganslugger.com.
