The Washington Nationals have assigned 2026 first-round pick Chris Hacopian to the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, skipping Single-A Fredericksburg to begin his professional career one level higher than usual.
Washington announced the assignment on Saturday, less than a month after selecting the 21-year-old Armenian-American infielder No. 11 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. Hacopian has yet to appear in a professional game and will bypass Single-A Fredericksburg entirely as he starts his climb through the organization.
The aggressive placement follows a standout lone season at Texas A&M, where Hacopian batted .319 with 11 home runs, 41 RBIs and a .983 OPS in 42 games. He also drew more walks (25) than strikeouts (21), a mark of plate discipline that earned him first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American honors.
For Hacopian, the assignment carries added meaning. A native of Potomac, Maryland, he grew up cheering for the Nationals and will now work his way toward his hometown major league club. His professional debut will come at High-A Wilmington, two steps from Washington.
Photo credit: Washington Nationals