The Nationals’ 2026 draft class was built around a clear headliner in Texas A&M second baseman Chris Hacopian, and the early returns already point to why he stood out. Washington grabbed one of the class’s best pure hitters in the first round, a bat with a long college track record, a .339 career batting average and a contact profile that put him among just four players in the class to earn a 60-grade hit tool projection or better.
Hacopian also checked the box for the player closest to the majors. His blend of contact skill, present physicality and three years of production gives him a chance to move quickly, especially if he keeps sliding down the defensive spectrum and asking less of himself in the field.
That same polish showed up right away after he signed. The Nationals sent him straight to High-A Wilmington, where he hit .275/.396/.350 in 13 games.
Washington’s best pro debut among its signed picks may have belonged to Oklahoma State infielder Avery Ortiz, who appeared in 18 games for Low-A Fredericksburg and posted an .820 OPS with three home runs and four doubles.
There was more to like throughout the class beyond the first-round bat. Miami third baseman Daniel Cuvet brought the loudest power, carrying 70-grade raw pop and backing it up with a 24-homer freshman season before finishing his three-year college career with 54 home runs and a .704 slugging percentage. He also posted a 107.1 mph 90th percentile exit velocity during the 2026 season.
The Nationals also added real athleticism. Pennsylvania high school shortstop Luke Williams, their third-round pick, was described as a dynamic athlete and 70-grade runner whose speed could let him handle multiple premium defensive spots with enough reps and development. He also earned the organization’s best athlete nod thanks to the combination of footspeed, hand speed and arm strength that makes him one of the more exciting upside bets in the class if the hit tool comes along.
Defensively, TCU outfielder Chase Brunson got the highest marks. He split time in center field alongside Sawyer Strosnider this spring, showed solid routes, above-average speed and an above-average arm, and looks capable of handling all three outfield positions.
On the mound, Appalachian State right-hander Gage Peterson was singled out for the best fastball. It may not be the hardest heater around, but the low-90s pitch plays up because of excellent extension and cut-ride life.
He generated a 27% miss rate with the fastball this spring. Texas high school right-hander Cooper Harris earned the best secondary pitch label, with a mix of breaking balls that could grow into above-average or better offerings.
His most consistent breaker right now is an upper-70s curveball with depth and finish that works well with his lively fastball.
Washington’s most intriguing background belonged to Arizona prep catcher Francisco Rivero. He is American-born, but spent years living and training in Venezuela and was supposed to sign as an international free agent with the Dodgers in the 2025 signing period.
MLB did not allow that, so he returned to Arizona and impressed with his offensive ability and game management behind the plate. His pro debut will be pushed back after a 56-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Among the later-round and nondrafted talent, Wake Forest left-hander Matthew Dallas stood out as the best 11+ round pick. He was once a notable high school prospect, appearing on the BA 500 as both a high school senior and a draft-eligible sophomore in the 2025 class. He went undrafted, then missed most of the 2026 season following Tommy John surgery, but at his best he has shown a deep mix of solid pitches, strike-throwing ability and a knack for keeping hitters off balance.
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Nationals Have A Max Scherzer Decision Fans Will Feel Deeply
Justin Verlanders final game in Detroit was the kind of send-off that lingers, the sort of career curtain call franchises and fans remember for years. It also has a way of making another familiar name feel newly relevant in Washington, where Max Scherzers Nationals legacy still carries real weight after the ace left in 2021 and kept building a championship resume with stops in Los Angeles, New York, Texas and Toronto, including a World Series title with the Rangers.
For the Nationals, the question is less about whether Scherzer still belongs in the conversation than how they might honor what he meant to the club if there is one more chapter left. A final season in Washington would offer more than nostalgia, giving the organization a chance to reconnect with one of its defining stars while putting a proper finish on a run that never really got the goodbye it deserved. [Read more 🡒]
Luis Garca Jr.'s Next Yankees Decision Could Change How He's Viewed
Luis Garca Jr. has already given the Yankees something to think about since arriving from Washington. He spent most of his time with the Nationals at second base before making the move to first this season, and the change has not slowed him down at the plate. For a New York club that is always juggling bats, gloves and lineup paths, Garcas ability to handle first base while producing offensively has made him a useful piece in a roster mix that also includes Ben Rice, Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jos Caballero and Anthony Volpe.
Aaron Boone even left open the possibility of Garca returning to second base down the road, which says plenty about how the Yankees are viewing him. The larger question is where he fits best as the roster continues to evolve, especially with defensive versatility and contractual realities shaping the way the club thinks about the infield. For Garca, the next step in New York may say as much about how the Yankees see him as it does about where he stands on the diamond. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Face A Bigger Question Than Just Spending More
The Brewers have offered a useful reminder that roster building is not always about chasing the biggest checkbook. They pieced together a 103-win season with a $154 million payroll by leaning on second-tier pitchers, a deep bullpen and a balanced lineup, with Christian Yelich and Brice Turang among the players helping drive the offense. For the Nationals, the comparison lands in an especially relevant way, because the question is not simply whether the front office can spend more, but whether it can build a more complete club.
Washington has already shown it can hang with Milwaukee, which makes the broader lesson from this kind of model even more interesting. The Brewers approach, as discussed in analysis from Wilytics, points to offense that keeps improving and a run-scoring profile supported by complementary pieces rather than one expensive solution. For the Nationals, the bigger issue is whether they can find that same kind of balance, the sort that turns a decent payroll into a playoff-caliber roster. [Read more 🡒]