LSU Baseball Star Derek Curiel Named to Watch List for Prestigious Bobby Bragan Award

Curiel, a 2025 National Freshman of the Year, is looking to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Dylan Crews as the Bragan Award winner.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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LSU sophomore centerfielder Derek Curiel has been named to the Watch List for the 2026 Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award. Curiel, who was the 2025 National Freshman of the Year, is looking to become the second straight LSU player to win the prestigious award after teammate Dylan Crews took home the honor in 2023.

Why it matters

The Bobby Bragan Award is one of the top individual honors in college baseball, recognizing not just on-field performance but also academics and personal integrity. Curiel's inclusion on the watch list is a testament to his all-around excellence and cements LSU's status as one of the premier college baseball programs in the country.

The details

Curiel, a product of West Covina, Calif., was voted the 2025 National Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com after a superb rookie season in which he helped lead LSU to the NCAA National Championship. A 2025 Second-Team All-America, First-Team Freshman All-America, Second-Team All-SEC selection and First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll member, Curiel hit a team-high .345 with 20 doubles, two triples, seven homers, 55 RBI and 67 runs.

  • Curiel was named to the 2026 Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List.
  • The winner of the 2026 Bragan Award will be announced in June and honored at a gala in the fall in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • LSU outfielder Dylan Crews was the recipient of the 2023 Bragan Award, which was first presented in 2017.

The players

Derek Curiel

A sophomore centerfielder for the LSU Tigers baseball team who was named the 2025 National Freshman of the Year.

Dylan Crews

A former LSU outfielder who won the 2023 Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award.

Jay Johnson

The head coach of the LSU Tigers baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“William was outstanding today, and he's getting better as we go. I'm really proud of how's he developing, how he's competing; he's throwing strikes and leading the team to wins on three Sundays in a row. I don't think any other team in the country can run out that kind of pitcher on a Sunday.”

— Jay Johnson, LSU head coach (LSU Tigers Baseball)

“This season is a 56-game playoff, and every game is really important. Every one that we win is of great value, and we take it to heart when we're not successful. We get everybody's best shot when we play, and we made some mistakes (in Tuesday's loss to McNeese) that we can learn from. We can use a lot from Tuesday's game that can help to catapult us forward, and there's much we can gain from that game.”

— Jay Johnson, LSU head coach (LSU Tigers Baseball)

What’s next

The winner of the 2026 Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award will be announced in June and honored at a gala in the fall in Fort Worth, Texas.

The takeaway

Derek Curiel's inclusion on the prestigious Bobby Bragan Award watch list is a testament to his exceptional all-around abilities as a baseball player, both on the field and in the classroom. As LSU looks to build on its 2025 national championship, Curiel will be a key piece in the Tigers' pursuit of another title.