Nats first round pick Chris Hacopian will be making his minor league debut tomorrow. Interestingly, it will not be in Fredericksburg. Instead, the local kid will be skipping over Low-A and will join the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The old regime would always send draft picks to Low-A first, even if it were only for a few games, but that has changed.
After being drafted 11th overall last month, it will be exciting to see Hacopian get started. That Wilmington team was already loaded, and now they are getting another top prospect. The likes of Eli Willits, Ronny Cruz and Miguel Sime Jr. are some of the players currently in Wilmington. Now, Paul Toboni's first draft pick will join them.
This ***** ignment is interesting for a couple reasons. First is that it is another change from the new regime. Even when Dylan Crews was drafted second overall, he played 14 games in Fredericksburg. After that, he skipped High-A and went to Harrisburg. Playing for the Fred Nats was like a rite of passage for Nationals prospects.
Wilmington is known as a bad place to hit, and the old regime was hyper-aware of that. The new regime has been more willing to send guys to Wilmington and let them stay there. It is a pitchers park, but if you can hit, you can thrive there. We saw that with the likes of Ethan Petry, Devin Fitz-Gerald and now Eli Willits.
Hacopian will be the next big bat in Wilmington. Toboni and the front office must have felt that the infielders bat was just too advanced for Low-A. There is certainly evidence for that, as Hacopian was seen as one of the best college hitters in the class. He has walked more than he has struck out wherever he has played. Now, he will take on Wilmington.

#wilmington #hacopian #first #willits

If you want to get drafted and make real money, Texas A&M is becoming one of the safest bets in college baseball. Across multiple sports, Aggies are cashing in, signing big contracts, climbing prospect boards, and beginning careers that already look like they could end in Cooperstown. Chris Hacopian and Caden Sorrell both signed major rookie deals after being selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. Now another Aggie star has officially joined the list.
On Tuesday, former Texas A&M infielder Gavin Grahovac signed a contract worth $1,247,500. The deal comes in over $229,000 above the slot value for the eighty-first pick. Much like Hacopian, Grahovac was drafted by his hometown team, making the moment a childhood dream fulfilled.
Grahovac’s legacy in College Station is unique. He may not fit neatly into the category of an all-time Aggie great, but he is unquestionably beloved. If not for the injury that sidelined him during his sophomore season, he might have been right there with Jace LaViolette in the all-time home run conversation. Even with the setback, he finished his A&M career with 37 home runs, including 23 as a freshman and 22 as a junior.
His 2026 was the best of his career. He posted a slash line of .339/.429/.722 with a 1.150 OPS. That included 78 hits, 22 home runs, and 74 RBI on the season. The breakout year vaulted him into elite national company and earned him a long list of honors.
2026 NCBWA All-America Third Team

#texas #aggie #team #like

This weekend, nearly a dozen Texas A&M players were selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, including former Maryland transfer infielder Chris Hacopian, who was selected 11th overall by the Washington Nationals, and veteran RHP Weston Moss, who will join his teammate in Washington after the Nationals selected him in the 11th round.
The Aggies' top three hitters this season, Hacopian, Caden Sorrell, and Gavin Grahovac, were all picked in the first three rounds, with Sorrell going 62nd overall to the Chicago Cubs, while Grahovac, who missed all but one game during the 2025 season, looks like an absolute steal for the Los Angeles Angels, who selected him 81st overall in the top of the third round on Saturday.
Last season, Grahovac started all 57 games, slashing .339/.429/.722 with 22 home runs and 74 RBI, and led the Aggies with 78 hits and 26 multi-hit performances, which included 20 multi-RBI games. Compared to his freshman season, the California native looked more confident at the dish, as his .754 slugging percentage ranked first in the SEC.
Heading home to start out in the minor leagues, Grahovac's potential is through the roof. In full agreement with the D1Baseball staff, the versatile infielder's drop to the third round was one of several surprising outcomes but should not hinder his development, especially given his improvement in 2026.
"Even the much lessened swing and miss of Texas A&M’s Gavin Grahovac couldn’t elevate his value beyond No. 81 overall. As much as his pick was a surprise fall, it was a steal as far as we’re concerned. The Aggies’ slugger lowered his strikeout rate from 23.1% to 16.5% while raising his ISO. This dual improvement is rarely accomplished, especially in a major conference."

Texas A&M's 2026 season may have ended prematurely in the Regional Round of the NCAA Tournament, but second-year coach Michael Earley accomplished his goal of getting the program back to the postseason, which served as the final run for several of the Aggies' stars, who have already been selected in the 2026 MLB Draft.
On Saturday, four 2026 starters were selected in the first four rounds of the 2026 draft, starting with former Maryland infielder Chris Hacopian, who went 11th overall to the Washington Nationals, followed by star hitters Caden Sorrell and Gavin Grahovac going 62nd overall to the Chicago Cubs, and 81st overall to the Los Angeles Angels after three seasons in College Station.
On the mound, junior LHP Shane Sdao, who returned after two injury-riddled seasons as one of three key starting pitchers, struggled out of the gate under second-year pitching coach Jason Kelley, who was subsequently fired after the 2026 season. Compared with his 5-1 record and 2.96 ERA in 2024, missing the 2025 season may have hindered his development.
Ending the year with the highest ERA (7.03) Sdao recorded a career high 83 strikeout, but allowed 16 home runs and 20 walks, which can be fixed with the right coaching staff. Still, talent always wins out, leading to the junior lefty being selected 120th overall in the fourth round by the New York Mets.
Given his financial slot, listed at $645K, Sdao has a choice to make regarding his future, and while returning for a final season could result in being selected one or two rounds higher this time next summer, developing in the minor leagues might be too tempting.

After three seasons in College Station, Texas A&M star outfielder Caden Sorrell said his final goodbyes to Blue Bell Park after helping lead the Aggies back to the NCAA Tournament under second-year coach Michael Earley, leading the Aggies in several categories, and launching 23 home runs, tied for the fifth most in Texas A&M history.
After his injury-riddled 2025 campaign, Sorrell's importance to the roster was highly evident given the Aggies' struggles on offense when he was out of the lineup, and paired with the loss of fellow star hitter Gavin Grahovac, Michael Earley knew that any shot at returning to the NCAA Tournament in 2026 hinged on both players staying healthy.
This hope came to fruition, as Sorrell, who slashed 341/.434/.743 with 77 hits and 67 runs scored, also led the Aggies with 76 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 20 doubles. One of the top MLB Draft prospects, expected to go late in the first or early in the second round, the Highland Village (TX) native is headed to join the Chicago Cubs, who chose Sorrell 62nd overall in the second round.
With a reported slot value of $1,487,200, Sorrell made the right decision to depart rather than return for a final season with the Aggies, giving the program everything he had and proving he is ready to continue improving in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Joining second baseman Chris Hacopian, who was selected 11th overall by the Washington Nationals, Caden Sorrell is the second Texas A&M player off the board.

It's that annoying stretch on the college baseball calendar again. The one where coaches have to sit and wait, fingers crossed, while the MLB Draft decides the fate of their rosters. Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley has never been shy about his frustration with the draft's timing, and once again he'll spend the next week or two hoping his top commits actually make it to campus.
The Aggies took a meaningful step forward this season, but the year still ended earlier than anyone in College Station wanted. And now, several early‑round talents are expected to come off the board quickly. Gavin Grahovac, Caden Sorrell, and Chris Hacopian should all hear their names called within the first few rounds, continuing A&M's long tradition of producing professional talent.
That pipeline has been on full display lately. Braden Montgomery became the latest former Aggie to reach the big leagues, while veteran right‑hander Michael Wacha earned his second All‑Star selection, another reminder of how consistently the program develops major‑league contributors.
Of course, being drafted doesn't guarantee a player will sign. Prospects still have a choice. Head to college or begin their climb through the minor‑league system. Those who choose the college route must remain for at least three seasons before re‑entering the draft, a rule that adds even more uncertainty for coaches trying to build stable rosters.
Below is your running list of Texas A&M players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, updated throughout the event.

Texas A&M's 2026 season wasn't a failure by any means, as second-year coach Michael Earley led the Aggies back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the program's magical run to the College World Series ***** le game, but failed to capitalize on hosting in the regional round, losing to USC in back-to-back games, primarily due to poor pitching and a lack of timely offense.
The 2026 season also served as a final farewell for the Aggies' top three batters, as Caden Sorrell, Gavin Grahovac, and one-year rental, former Maryland transfer Chris Hacopian, are expected to be selected high in the 2026 MLB Draft, which will begin on Saturday afternoon, with the first ten selections airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Combined with the Aggies' top three hitters, starting pitchers Shane Sdao and Weston Moss, and elite closer Clayton Freshcorn could also depart if selected high enough, as money and the chance to quickly advance through the minor leagues will be tempting. However, Sdao and Moss would benefit from working under the new pitching coach, Barry Enright, before heading to MLB.
Other names to watch include a handful of the Aggies' offseason transfer portal additions, now including former Dallas Baptist outfielder Dylan Schlaegel and UConn All-American Tyler Minick, both of whom are draft-eligible. Texas A&M's 2026 recruiting class could also lose several top-ranked prospects, led by shortstop Connor Comeau.
Day 1 is broken into three windows

Entering his second full offseason, Texas A&M coach Michael Earley accomplished his goal of leading the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in two seasons, but after losing back-to-back games to USC in the College Station Regional, it was clear as day that Earley needed to make a change to his staff, specifically relieving pitching coach Jason Kelley of his duties.
After Kelley was dismissed, Earley hired MLB pitching coach/coordinator Barry Enright, whose development background and major league experience were highly intriguing, while the shocking return of recruiting ace Nolan Cane, who coached catchers for the Texas Longhorns during the past two seasons, has already paid off in the transfer portal.
So far, the Aggies have added nine players, including six pitchers from the portal, while the addition of former Clemson catcher/outfielder Nate Savoie, ranked as the No. 2 overall-ranked transfer, provides Earley star power at the plate, knowing that Caden Sorrell, Gavin Grahovac, and Chris Hacopian are expected to depart for the 2026 MLB Draft.
While the Aggies have been connected to several SEC transfers, including LSU pitcher Marco Paz, Texas A&M is now reportedly in the running for Oregon Ducks transfer infielder Naulivou Lauaki Jr., who recorded a .321 batting average, paired with 43 hits, 37 RBIs, 24 runs, and 14 home runs during his freshman season with the Ducks.
According to his recent TikTok video, Lauaki Jr. is reportedly down to Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M, teasing his future reveal, and with Nolan Cain now a part of the Aggie coaching staff, I won't say that A&M should be considered the favorite, but this is good news either way heading into the new week.

Texas A&M coach Michael Earley is entering his second season at the helm with even higher expectations after landing nearly a dozen players from the transfer portal, including five pitchers, and after hiring new pitching coach Barry Enright, the Aggies rehired Nolan Cain, who served as an ****** istant coach with coach Jim Schlossnagle and the Texas Longhorns over the past two seasons.
Stealing Cain away from Texas sent shockwaves through the college baseball landscape, and after watching Oklahoma's historic run in the College World Series, just one win away from securing its first national ****** le since 1994, loading up on MLB-level prospects from the portal, which includes Clemson transfer catcher Nate Savoie.
Cain will be one of the hotter head coach candidates, and is by far the best recruiter in college baseball, and just hours before his return was announced, the Aggies landed a commitment from Houston transfer pitcher Caleb Kimble, followed by landing former South Carolina LHP Logan Prisco, proving his impact.
Slated to lose its top three hitters, as Caden Sorrell, Chris Hacopian, and Gavin Grahovac are all considered first or second-round MLB Draft picks, finding replacements to pair with rising sophomores Nico Partida, Boston Kellner, and Jorian Wilson is vital, and Savoie, combined with Jack Bell (TCU), Lane Arroyos (Western Kentucky), is a good start.
Texas A&M's coaching additions are likely complete, with Enright and Cain now hired, placing more pressure on Michael Earley to not just get back to the NCAA Tournament but also make the College World Series for the first time since the memorable 2024 run. While more additions are likely on the way, the current roster is already in solid shape and is still awaiting announcements from several key players about their returns.

Texas A&M's back-to-back losses to USC in the College Station Regional weren't shocking, given the pitching struggles that haunted the Aggies throughout the regular season, and even though the offense scored 17 runs against Texas State, second-year coach Michael Earley's top three batters struggled at the plate when it mattered most.
However, after firing second-year pitching coach Jason Kelley, Earley hired former MLB pitching coach/coordinator Barry Enright to the position, resulting in two key transfer commitments from Wichita State transfer pitcher Johnny Nuanez, who finished the 2026 season with 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA over 56 1/3 innings and, on Sunday night, UNLV transfer HP Jase Evangelista, who was 4-1 with 64 strikeouts as a junior.
Already expected to land Texas State transfer RHP Wade Cooper, who will reportedly arrive on campus this Wednesday, On3 insider Pete Nakos also confirmed that fact, and after landing Clemson transfer C/OF Nate Savoie on Monday night, Michael Earley deserves credit for making significant progress this month.
Sources tell On3 that Cooper is set to arrive on a visit to Texas A&M on Wednesday. It was previously set for Monday. The Aggies are expected to land a commitment from the right-hander, who finished the season with a 4.72 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched with 73 strikeouts and five saves.
Likely set to lose star hitters Caden Sorrell, Gavin Grahovac, and Chris Hacopian, Earley will need to add a handful of veteran infielders/outfielders to pair with incoming sophomores Nico Partida, Boston Kellner, and Jorian Wilson after Savoie, Jack Bell, and Western Kentucky transfer infielder Lane Arroyos.

Texas A&M baseball has seen its first non‑pitcher enter the transfer portal this offseason, and this one stings a little more than most. Sophomore infielder Sawyer Farr, a legacy Aggie who never stopped grinding for a role, has officially entered the portal, as first reported by Aggie Sports 365 and later confirmed by On3.
Farr’s path in College Station was anything but straightforward. Thrust into a starting job far earlier than expected during the injury‑plagued 2025 season, he endured the typical freshman growing pains while trying to stabilize an infield that was constantly in flux. Despite being a top‑rated shortstop in his class, he wasn’t projected to play nearly as much as he did, and the learning curve showed.
The 2026 season brought even more competition. True freshman Boston Kellner seized the starting shortstop job from day one, while Chris Hacopian opened the year at second base. Even when Hacopian shifted to designated hitter due to injury, veteran Ben Royo stepped in at second, leaving Farr without a clear path to consistent innings.
With Jack Bell arriving through the portal and both freshman starters potentially returning, the infield picture only grew more crowded. Farr found himself on the outside looking in, reduced to backup opportunities rather than a defined role.
Still, he made the most of the chances he did get. Across 19 games and 40 at‑bats, Farr posted a .250/.400/.325 slash line, showing improved plate discipline and the same clutch gene that surfaced multiple times during his freshman campaign.