The Washington Nationals have started locking in the heart of their 2026 draft class, signing second-rounder Chase Brunson, third-rounder Luke Williams and fourth-rounder Cooper Harris.
Chris Hacopian, the first-round pick and local name that will grab the most attention, may be the headliner. But these three are right there in the foundation of Paul Toboni’s first draft, and the bonus money tells you plenty about how the Nationals viewed each player.
Luke Williams ended up being the priciest of the group, landing a $2.5 million bonus that came in well above slot value. That deal was even bigger than Brunson’s, which says a lot about how the Nats feel about Williams and how difficult he was to sign. Vanderbilt commits like Williams are often tougher to get into pro ball.
The comparison to Coy James from last year is hard to ignore. James got the same $2.5 million bonus despite going in the fifth round, and he’s already showing solid production in Low-A with plenty of power.
Williams, though, may take a little longer to get going. He’s the kind of player teams dream on: elite athleticism, loud tools and a ton of upside, but also plenty of rawness.
An injury kept him from playing much on the showcase circuit last summer, so there wasn’t much chance to test him against premium pitching. That leaves some mystery around the player, and the Nationals are clearly betting on the tools.
If Williams is the long-game play, Chase Brunson looks like the safer bet. The former TCU star signed for $1.8 million, an under-slot deal that gives Washington some flexibility.
Brunson fits right in that range talent-wise, too. He brings contact ability, power and defensive value, and he’s the kind of player who makes sense if you’re trying to build a balanced draft class.
A lot of fans probably wondered why the Nationals passed on a pitcher in the second round. Brunson’s price tag helps explain it. Washington clearly liked him enough to make the pick work, and the savings could help them later with the high school players they selected.
Brunson’s profile is pretty easy to see. He has better-than-average bat-to-ball skills and power, and he can handle center field.
The area that needs the most refinement is his swing decisions, but that’s a fixable issue. Even with some chase in the profile, he still projects cleanly as a big leaguer.
The floor is a fourth outfielder. The ceiling is a 20/20 center fielder who can do a little bit of everything.
Then there’s Cooper Harris, the fourth-round high school arm who fits a type the Nationals have targeted often in recent years. Harris signed for $1.5 million, an over-slot bonus, though not in the same range as some of the bigger payouts Washington has handed out to prep pitchers. Landon Harmon got $2.5 million last year, Miguel Sime Jr. received $2 million, and Travis Sykora got $2.6 million in 2023.
Harris may not carry quite that same upside, but that doesn’t mean he should be overlooked. He’s an advanced high school pitcher with what might be the best control among the Nationals’ prep arms.
He also has a strong feel for manipulating the baseball and already shows four quality pitches. His fastball sits mostly in the low-90’s, though he can reach 96.
If he can live in the mid-90’s, his stock could jump quickly. The heater already plays above the radar gun, and the breaking ball shapes are solid.
Washington has often bet on stuff and tried to build command later; with Harris, it’s more about his feel to pitch and the hope that the velocity comes with time.
Taken together, Brunson, Williams and Harris give this class a distinct shape. The Nationals targeted hitters with bat-to-ball ability and at least some power, and on the pitching side they went after arms with a lot to offer but room to add velocity. For a new regime focused on building depth in the farm system, these three are a big part of the plan.
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