Chris Hacopian signed a $5.7 million deal with Washington after becoming Texas A&M's highest-drafted position player and a dangerous First Team All-SEC slugger.
Chris Hacopian’s Texas A&M baseball career was brief, bruising and valuable.
Now, it’s officially over after the star infielder signed a reported $5.7 million rookie contract with the Washington Nationals following his first-round selection in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Washington grabbed Hacopian with the No. 11 overall pick, making him the highest-drafted position player in Aggies history.
The deal reportedly comes in below the pick’s $6,133,500 slot value, but Hacopian still secured life-changing money and a clear path into professional baseball.
Returning to College Station for another season might’ve created an opportunity to improve his 2027 draft position.
It also would’ve exposed him to another year of injuries, slumps and uncertainty. Hacopian had already done enough damage in the SEC to prove he belonged among the best hitters in his class.
The Nationals weren’t buying potential alone.
Hacopian arrived at Texas A&M after an explosive run at Maryland, where he hit .375 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, 61 RBI and a massive .502 on-base percentage.
That production earned him Second Team All-Big Ten recognition and made him one of the most coveted additions in the transfer portal.
His power followed him to College Station.
Despite battling injuries during the 2026 season, Hacopian hit .319 with 11 homers and 41 RBI for the Aggies.
He earned First Team All-SEC honors while becoming one of the most reliable threats in Michael Earley’s lineup.
The numbers mattered, but Hacopian’s swing is what pushed him into the first round.
His bat speed allows him to punish mistakes, while his natural strength produces power without forcing him to overswing.
That combination helped Baseball America rank him as the No. 11 prospect in the draft class, while MLB Pipeline placed him at No. 14.
Washington now gets an advanced college hitter who has already produced against high-level pitching in two major conferences.
Hacopian will still need to prove where he fits defensively and show that he can remain healthy through the grind of a professional season.
But the bat gives him a legitimate chance to climb quickly.
Texas A&M landed only one season from Hacopian, yet that season ended with an All-SEC selection, a historic draft position and a multimillion-dollar contract.
The Aggies didn’t get him for long. They got him right before he exploded.
