The Nationals didn’t just have a productive first day in the 2026 MLB Draft - they turned it into a full signing sweep.
Washington locked in all four of its Day 1 picks, according to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, giving the organization a complete haul that included first-rounder Chris Hacopian, second-round outfielder Chase Brunson, and prep standouts Luke Williams and Cooper Harris.
The biggest challenge came with the two high school picks. Williams, a shortstop from Franklin Regional High School in Pennsylvania, had been committed to Vanderbilt.
Harris, a right-handed pitcher from Flower Mound High School in Texas, was headed to Texas. Washington had to get both to choose pro ball instead, and it did so by going well above slot on each deal.
Williams signed for $2.5 million, a huge jump from the recommended slot value of $1,069,600 for the No. 78 pick. Harris got $1.5 million, also well above the $740,500 slot figure tied to the No. 106 selection.
That extra money was made possible, at least in part, by the discounts taken by the club’s first two picks. Hacopian, the No. 11 overall selection, signed for $5.7 million rather than the recommended $6,133,500. Brunson accepted $1.8 million instead of the $2,388,800 slot value attached to his pick.
Those savings added up. With roughly $1 million trimmed from Hacopian and Brunson’s deals, Washington had room to push harder for Williams and Harris, who together signed for about $2.1 million over their combined slot values.
On the field, the Nationals clearly liked the upside they added. Hacopian arrived as one of the best hit-tool players in the class, with a top-tier blend of contact and power.
Brunson brought a high ceiling from TCU. Williams offers elite speed and some raw power that could make him a top 100 prospect if the bat comes around.
Harris, meanwhile, already works in the mid-90 mph range with his fastball and mixes in two breaking pitches, giving him the kind of arm that could develop into a frontline starter.
For Washington, the day ended with the kind of result teams dream about in draft season: four picks, four signatures, and a farm system that just got a lot more interesting.
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Seth Halvorsens profile is the kind front offices keep circling at this time of year: a reliever with major league experience, still under team control, and available in a market where late-inning arms are always in demand. Even with the deadline still ahead, the return attached to this deal gives the Nationals another data point as they gauge whether to add, stand pat, or wait for the market to shift again before Aug. 3. [Read more 🡒]