Texas A&M’s star infielder just inked his rookie contract with the Washington Nationals after being selected by the franchise in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
According to Nationals’ beat reporter Spencer Nusbaum, Chris Hacopian has signed an under-slot deal of $5.7 million. While the slot value of the 11th pick is $6,133,500, being selected high in this year’s draft class outweighs the potential for Hacopian to spend another year at the collegiate level for a chance to get drafted higher in 2027.
Washington’s pick is one of the most impressive infielders in the nation, ranking as the No. 11 prospect in this year’s class by Baseball America and No. 14 per MLB Pipeline. The Nationals’ pick made him the highest-drafted position player in Texas A&M history.
Hacopian transferred to the Aggies from Maryland, where he hit .375 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, 61 RBI, and a .502 on-base percentage, earning him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team. His natural power and pure swing at the plate made an immediate impact for Michael Earley’s club in 2026, as he boasted a .319 batting average, 11 home runs and 41 RBI, making him a First Team All-SEC selection for his massive contributions in the Maroon and White.
Despite battling injuries in his junior campaign, Hacopian proved to be one of the best additions of the Earley era in College Station. With his strength, bat speed, and one of the sweetest swings in baseball, the former Aggie has the potential to be a huge contributor for the Nationals organization moving forward.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M’s star infielder signs $5.7M rookie deal with Nationals
Reporting by Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
