What a Key Transfer’s Injury Means for Texas A&M Baseball
The Aggies of Texas A&M had a stellar 2024 baseball season. Their season came to a close in June as they were named the Men’s College World Series runners-up. However, due to a plague of injuries, the 2025 season looked a little different. Starting at the top of the preseason rankings, they only plummeted so far that they fell out of the top 25 rankings altogether. When it was announced that transfer portal grab Chris Hacopian had fractured his hand, it appeared the Aggies should panic.
Hacopian, a utility who played his first two seasons at Maryland, is an athlete who fills more than just one void for the Aggies. In his last season with the Terps, Hacopian led the team in hits with 72 on a batting average of .375. He also racked up an on-base percentage of .502, which is recorded as the ninth-best in Maryland program history. Set to play shortstop for the Aggies, Hacopian is an offensive weapon who can ensure his team can keep up with the best of the best SEC pitchers.
Now, the Aggies will have to wait to see their newest addition in the batter’s box. The six-foot-one transfer was only able to get two weeks of fall training in before he suffered a small fracture in his right hand. The culprit behind the fracture appears to have been overuse. Losing a batter like Hacopian in fall games may force the Aggies to strengthen their lineup and play harder.
Though he is expected to make a return before Opening Day, his injury does raise questions. If overuse is the reason behind the fracture, what steps will need to be taken to ensure he stays healthy come Opening Day? Keeping Hacopian healthy in the regular season will be vital for not only the Aggies’ offense but their defense as well. After last season’s plummet out of the rankings, keeping key players healthy is going to be important for this SEC team. If their bullpen and utility athletes like Hacopian remain in top shape come February, this Texas A&M team may just claim its spot back in the top 25 rankings.
