MLB draft tracker: Nationals take Maryland native Chris Hacopian in first round

It’s been a year of new faces for the Washington Nationals. The MLB draft marks the organization’s first under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who will oversee the addition of a new wave of talent over the next two days.

The front office was assembled as part of the Nationals’ organizational overhaul following six consecutive losing seasons. It is the youngest front office and coaching staff in Major League Baseball.

The Nationals enter the draft with four Day 1 picks. They are:

• Round 1: No. 11
• Round 2: No. 42
• Round 3: No. 78
• Round 4: No. 106

The Nationals have the 14th-largest bonus pool at $12,278,300 to sign their draft class.

With Washington one game above .500 and in the playoff hunt, the organization enters an important stretch as it approaches the trade deadline.

Follow along for notes and analysis of the Nationals’ first day of the MLB draft.

First round, No. 11: 2B Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M

With Toboni’s first pick leading the Nationals, he brings a familiar name back home.

Hacopian, 21, grew up in Potomac, Maryland, a suburb of Washington. Growing up, he played for the Olney Pirates — the same youth program that helped develop Nationals outfielder James Wood.

In 1992, Hacopian’s dad, Derek Hacopian, won the Atlantic Coast Conference triple crown and Player of the Year honors at Maryland. Following in his dad’s footsteps, Hacopian played two years for the Terps before transferring to Texas A&M.

This season, Hacopian batted .319 with a .983 on-base-plus-slugging percentage for the Aggies in the Southeastern Conference. The team finished the regular season 41-16, earning the No. 12 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Aggies’ tournament ended in the regional round against Southern California.

Lower-back issues that sidelined Hacopian for nearly a month this spring affected his numbers, according to MLB Pipeline. But, when he’s healthy, his strike-zone judgment and hitting ability rank among the best in this class.

Although Hacopian excels as a hitter, he has average arm strength and lacks lateral range, which led to his move from third to second base in college, according to MLB Pipeline. It isn’t out of the question for Hacopian to wind up in the outfield.

Baseball America ranked Hacopian as the 11th-best prospect in the class, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 14.

Second round, No. 42: OF Chase Brunson, TCU

Brunson bet on himself when he decided to play at TCU after graduating from high school. The Toronto Blue Jays drafted Brunson in the 18th round in 2023. That bet paid off when he became Washington’s second-round pick Saturday.

Brunson, 21, batted .304 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs this year with the Horned Frogs. The team finished the regular season 33-21, and Brunson received honorable mention on the All-Big 12 team.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Brunson’s strength is his consistency as a hitter. Although he doesn’t have the quickness typical of most center fielders, his instincts have allowed him to track down balls in the gaps.

Baseball America ranked Brunson as the 47th-best prospect in the class, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 50.

Third round, No. 78: SS Luke Williams, Franklin Regional HS (Pennsylvania)

Williams, 18, batted .465 with a 1.422 OPS in his senior season. Prior to the draft, he committed to Vanderbilt.

Williams missed much of the 2025 showcase circuit with an ankle injury, but he boasts elite athleticism, speed and impressive power potential fueled by exceptional bat speed. However, according to Baseball America’s scouting report, his swing mechanics and approach remain raw, making improved contact against high-level pitching the key to unlocking his upside.

Baseball America ranked Williams as the 99th-best prospect in the class, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 90.

Fourth round, No. 106: RHP Cooper Harris, Flower Mound HS (Texas)

In February, Harris, 18, wowed scouts, racking up 17 strikeouts across six no-hit innings in a high school game, to emerge as one of the best pitching prospects coming out of the Lone Star State. Prior to the draft, Harris was committed to Texas.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Harris has a high-spin fastball that sits at 94-96 mph and solid strike-throwing ability, giving him considerable upside. Although he has two promising breaking balls, the report says he leans heavily on his fastball and has yet to fully develop or utilize his changeup.

Baseball America ranked Harris as the 83rd-best prospect in the class. MLB Pipeline had him at No. 76.

This article has been updated.