​Texas A&M’s 2026 season may have ended in the College Station Regional at the hands of USC, but second-year mentor Michael Earley achieved his objective of guiding the Aggies back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2024. The offense produced a .301 team batting average and belted 121 home runs, demonstrating potent run production. Yet the pitching woes persisted, culminating in the decision to part ways with pitching coach Jason Kelley. In the ensuing offseason, ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft, Earley and his staff—now augmented by a new pitching coach in Barry Enright and the return of recruiting ace and catching coach Nolan Cain—made a significant impact through the transfer portal. The program assembled a 13-player addition haul, highlighted by former Clemson catcher Nate Savoie, and complemented by seven pitchers.
On Saturday, in the opening round of the MLB Draft, one of Texas A&M’s top three hitters from 2026, former Maryland transfer infielder Chris Hacopian, went 11th overall to the Washington Nationals. The Maryland native will be returning closer to home after just one season with the Aggies, posting a .319/.405/.578 slash line with 11 homers and 41 RBIs. Hacopian’s selection continued a remarkable trend for the Aggies: producing a first-round pick in three consecutive seasons, a program record that underscores the belief that Michael Earley is the right leader for the program at this juncture. The sequence began with Braden Montgomery, who went 12th overall to the Boston Red Sox in 2024 and later made his debut with the Chicago White Sox this summer, followed by star outfielder Jace LaViolette, who was chosen 27th by the Cleveland Guardians last summer.
This sustained first-round success reinforces the sense that Earley has the program moving in the right direction. The 2024 and 2025 seasons already showcased the depth of talent and the pipeline from school to the professional ranks, and 2026 has only reinforced that narrative. The Aggies’ return to national relevance hinges not only on their explosive offense but also on building a more reliable pitching staff, something Earley has publicly prioritized through the offseason changes, including bringing in Enright and retaining Cain’s guidance for the program’s recruiting and development strategy. As the new transfer class settles in, Texas A&M aims to translate the portal influx into sustained success on the field and continued visibility in the NCAA tournament conversation.
For ongoing Texas A&M coverage, follow Aggies Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook. Cameron Ohnysty can be followed on X at @CameronOhnysty for updates, insights, and analysis. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire under the title: Texas A&M sets record with 3 straight first-round MLB Draft picks, signaling promising momentum for the program.