WASHINGTON -- Chris Hacopian has been to Nationals Park many times.
Growing up in Potomac, Md., and attending Winston Churchill High School, Nationals baseball was in his backyard. The 21-year-old admired Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and, inspired by a heroic World Series run, idolized Howie Kendrick.
Hacopian’s last trip to the stadium was different, though. He wasn’t coming as a fan; he was invited by the Nationals as a potential Draft pick.
“Actually walking through the dugout where the players walk out onto the field, it’s just a different feeling, it’s a different view. It’s just so exciting,” Hacopian reflected. “That’s exactly where I want to be.”
A few days later, the Nationals selected Hacopian out of Texas A&M with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday. It is the first selection ever made by a new front office led by president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and assistant general manager Justin Horowitz.
“You obviously can't draw it up that way,” Toboni said. “But he’s probably going to be coming in for his physical at some point over the next couple days, and he's taking a 30-minute drive. Just the fact that he feels a connection to the organization, too, I think is a really cool thing.
“To be clear, it's not why we drafted him, obviously. But it is really cool because we talk a lot about the importance of the connection to what we wear on our chest and what the players wear across their jerseys and the city and all that. I think Chris already feels that connection, which I think it's just easier to really buy into what we're doing as an organization, but then also connect to the community and all the other things.”
MLB Pipeline's No. 14 Draft prospect, Hacopian was the highest-ranked second baseman by a wide margin due to his bat, considered by some evaluators to be the best in his class. He played two seasons at the University of Maryland before transferring to Texas A&M for the 2026 season.
Not currently boasting standout power -- although he did hit 11 home runs in 42 games in his junior season -- Hacopian makes a lot of hard contact and has great command of the strike zone. He’s a particularly good fastball hitter, and scouts have praised his barrel control and bat speed, which both serve to make him more projectable at the plate if he can hit the ball in the air more regularly.
Hacopian hit .319/.405/.578 with 10 doubles and 41 RBIs this season.
“He made a really strong impression,” Horowitz said of Hacopian’s visit. “He was super honest and very straightforward about what he thinks he’s really good at and what he thinks he can improve upon. And we were the same way with him, challenging and seeing how he would respond. He’s ready to go to work, and that really excites us. [We’re] excited to bring someone with his talent [and] someone with his character into the organization.”
When the Nationals presented a personalized slideshow to Hacopian, it was their acknowledgement of both his strengths and weaknesses that stood out to him. He described the presentation as the most organized and “different” from other teams.
“It was an offensive game plan and a defensive game plan, and it was what they liked, what I already do well, and what I’d need to improve on,” Hacopian said. “They talked about how they would kind of go over that, and that really fired me up just because at the end of the day, my goal is to become the best Major League Baseball player possible. Seeing an organization that, before they even picked me, they were so prepared in my development, it stood out a lot.”
Hacopian posted strong numbers despite dealing with a flood of injuries during the 2025-26 school year. He broke his hand during his fall semester, limiting his preseason training. He would miss time early in the season due to a lower back strain. A hit-by-pitch on April 17 grazed his mouth, an issue that didn't cost him any playing time but did necessitate some dental work. He later suffered a left leg injury that limited his ability to run.
Likely influenced both by those injury issues and his below-average range and arm strength, the Aggies, having originally committed to playing Hacopian at short, shifted him to second base for the majority of his junior season. Evaluators largely believe that if he is to remain in the infield long-term, it will be at second, although he has also seen time at first and third in college and summer ball and a move to left field would also suit his skillset.
If he signs, Hacopian will be a second-generation professional; his father, Derek, the 1992 ACC Player of the Year and Triple Crown winner at the University of Maryland, was a 23rd-round pick by Cleveland and spent four seasons in the Minors, reaching High-A. His older brother Eddie is an infielder for the Québec Capitales of the independent Frontier League. He FaceTimed from Canada to join in the family Draft festivities.
“When they called my name, it was just an unreal feeling,” Hacopian said. “I’m so grateful that I got to experience it with people I love and people that have supported me along this journey.”