Ever since new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni took over the Washington Nationals, the front office have been focused on building the organization into a true player development machine. Obviously, the team has exceeded expectations at the big league level in a huge way so far this season, and for the first time in a long time, fans are excited for the future of the team.
For so long, things seemed so bleak, as the club was stuck in purgatory for several years. Now, with Toboni at the helm, the organization has a sense of direction, and they are prioritizing tools that make prospects into quality big leaguers. That realignment from the previous regime but be a big reason why the Nationals did what they did with their first pick, a year after they had the #1 overall pick.
Nationals select DMV product Chris Hacopian with No. 11 pick
After several surprises within the Top 10 of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals ended up having some things fall their way, and were able to select Chris Hacopian with the #11 overall pick. For those unfamiliar with his game, there is a ton to like about his game overall, especially with his fit in the Nationals organization, where he had been linked a ton in the pre-draft process.
Hacopian hails from Texas A&M, and while his future defensive home is still a bit unclear at this time, his ability with the bat is why he was picked and coveted so highly in this year's draft. He is from Gaithersburg, Maryland originally, and spent the first 2 seasons of his college career at the University of Maryland before transferring to College Station for his final year with the Aggies.
This year, he slashed .319/.405/.578, good for a .983 OPS, and walked 25 times compared to just 21 strikeouts across 195 plate appearances. He homered 11 times and drove in 41 runs as well, and for what it's worth, he was ranked as MLB Pipeline's #14 prospect in this draft.
He played second base for the Aggies after primarily playing third base and shortstop in his 2 years with the Terrapins, but he could be a guy who gets thrown into left field in the minors. Pipeline grades his arm and fielding at a 45, and his run tool with a 40. However, his hit tools steal the show, with a 60-grade hit tool and 50-grade power tool, this could be a guy who flies through the minors due to his bat-to-ball skills and elite approach.
What do you think of the Chris Hacopian selection by the Nationals? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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