Nationals Draft Hacopian at 11 | Washington Nationals News

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It's July 11th. You're listening to Washington Nationals News Today, AI-powered coverage of your squad. The Nationals made their first big move in the 2026 MLB draft, snagging Chris Hacopian with the 11th overall pick. He's a second baseman out of Texas A&M, and scouts were really high on his bat, calling it potentially the best in this draft class.
He was ranked number 14 overall by MLB pipeline. Hacopian's junior year stats were solid, hitting 11 homers in 42 games.
He makes a lot of hard contact and has a good eye at the plate, especially against fastballs. His barrel control and bat speed are praised, suggesting he could develop even more power if he can get the ball in the air more often. Despite a rough year with injuries, including a broken hand and back strain, Hacopian still put up good numbers. He batted 319 with 41 RBIs.
These injuries, along with some questions about his range and arm strength, led to him shifting from shortstop to second base for most of his time at Texas A&M. Evaluators think he'll likely stick at second base if he stays in the infield. There's also talk he could fit in at first, third, or even left field. His father, Derek Hacopian, was also drafted back in 1992 and played a few seasons in the minors. Chris Hacopian transferred to Texas A&M for his junior year after playing his first two seasons at his father's old college. He's got a strong lineage in the game, and the Nationals are betting on his offensive potential to make a big impact.