Washington Nationals pick Maryland infielder Chris Hacopian 11th overall in 2026 MLB Draft

The Washington Nationals selected local infielder Chris Hacopian with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft. Hacopian, a 21‑year‑old who played his final collegiate season at Texas A&M after two years at the University of Maryland, posted a .339/.449/.604 slash line with 40 home runs, 144 RBIs and a 95‑walk to 66‑strikeout ratio over 149 games.

Born in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Hacopian grew up a Nationals fan and idolized former Washington players. The club sees his high‑contact, power‑capable profile as a boost to its farm system and may consider moving him to the outfield if his athleticism limits his in‑field upside. His addition is part of the organization’s early moves under new manager Paul Toboni, aiming to develop a core of young talent for the future.