Chris Hacopian’s first professional homer is the latest sign that the Nationals may have found something real in their 2026 first-round pick.
The DMV native, selected out of Texas A&M after transferring from the University of Maryland, is already making noise in the Nationals’ farm system. Hacopian played at Maryland from 2024-2025, following in his father’s footsteps and joining his older brother, Eddie, in the process. He also grew up as a Nationals fan, which makes his early success in the organization feel a little more personal.
He was able to jump straight to High-A Wilmington, and so far he’s handled the assignment with impressive poise. Last night, Hacopian launched his first career home run as a pro, coming just two weeks after he recorded his first career hit.
Across 12 career games, he’s off to a strong start: .263/.391/.342 with one homer, one RBI, two stolen bases, eight walks, and eight strikeouts in 38 at-bats.
The 21-year-old is showing the kind of early traits that can speed up a climb through the minors. He’s still a few years from the majors, but the foundation is there for a quick rise if the power keeps showing up. With his 60-grade hit tool, added pop could push him into Top 100 prospect territory before long.
There’s also a practical angle to watch with Hacopian down the line. With the impending lockout, players on 40-man rosters for all 30 teams would be barred from team facilities, while players not on the 40-man would not be affected in the same way. If the lockout were to bleed into the 2027 season, non-40-man players would still be able to play a normal minor league schedule under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
That makes Hacopian a name worth keeping out of the 40-man picture for now, since he’s still well away from the big leagues. If a work stoppage does reach into 2027, staying off the roster would allow him to keep playing and developing in the minors. The expectation is that the Nationals won’t add him to the 40-man anytime soon, but it’s something to keep in mind as the situation develops.
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