One of the biggest names in the college baseball transfer portal this offseason was infielder Chris Hacopian, and Texas A&M landing him was nothing short of a program‑shifting win. The Aggies entered 2026 needing to replace one of the most prolific hitters in school history—Jace LaViolette, now off to the MLB—and adding Hacopian immediately stabilized the lineup.
The junior infielder arrives as one of the top hitters in the country and a projected high MLB Draft pick. He wasn’t a national headline coming out of high school, but evaluators saw enough raw tools and offensive upside for Maryland to offer him a scholarship, allowing him to play alongside his brother. Years of training in his family’s baseball facility helped shape a disciplined, advanced hitting approach—one that blossomed into a breakout career with the Terrapins.
At Maryland, Hacopian slashed .375/.502/.656 with 14 home runs and an exceptional 40‑to‑19 walk‑to‑strikeout ratio, cementing himself as one of the most polished bats in college baseball.
A Difficult Decision and a Bigger Opportunity
Leaving Maryland wasn’t easy. It was home. It was where he grew up, built lifelong friendships, and deepened his faith. But after long conversations with the people closest to him, Hacopian entered the portal with a clear purpose: challenge himself at the highest level.
He wanted a program that matched his ambition. He wanted teammates who shared his professional goals. And that’s where Texas A&M stepped in.
“I wanted to challenge myself, I wanted to go to a good program in the SEC, I wanted to surround myself with guys with similar goals that I have with when it comes to professional baseball”
The Aggies’ track record of developing MLB talent spoke for itself. For Hacopian, the fit was obvious.
What He Brings to the 2026 Aggies
Hacopian is expected to be a cornerstone of the 2026 roster—a middle‑of‑the‑order presence with elite plate discipline, gap‑to‑gap power, and the ability to control at‑bats in a way few college hitters can. His arrival softens the blow of losing LaViolette and gives A&M a proven, mature offensive anchor.
If you want to dive deeper into his story, his full segment with Over Slot Baseball offers a great look at who he is on and off the field.
Texas A&M will open the 2026 campaign with a three-game home series against Tennessee Tech beginning February 13 at Blue Bell Park in Bryan–College Station.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Who Is Chris Hacopian? Meet Texas A&M baseball’s newest star infielder
