Aggie Duo Named to Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Feb 06, 2026 | Baseball
CARY, N.C. – Infielder Chris Hacopian and outfielder Caden Sorrell were named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, announced by USA Baseball Friday.
The Golden Spikes Award has honored the top amateur baseball player in the nation since 1978 and is given to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
The preseason watch list nod marks the first Golden Spikes Award recognition for both Hacopian and Sorrell, while extending the Aggies' streak to three straight seasons with multiple players named to the preseason list.
The preseason list includes 55 players across high school and college baseball. Texas A&M is one of 13 schools with multiple players on the list, and the SEC leads the way with 16 student-athletes representing the conference. The Golden Spikes Advisory Board maintains the award's watch list on a rolling basis, allowing student-athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on in-season performance.
Hacopian comes to Aggieland with a career .347 batting average and 1.080 OPS over two full seasons at Maryland. In 2025, he led the Terrapins in batting average (.375), OPS (1.158) and hits (72). The righty slugger drilled 14 home runs, 12 doubles and plated 61 RBI while scoring 51 of his own. Hacopian showed a patient approach at the dish, drawing 40 walks against just 19 strikeouts.
The Potomac, Maryland, native has started in each of the 107 games he has appeared in over his career, blasting 29 home runs, 22 doubles, and driving in 103 RBI. Hacopian earned All-Big Ten honors in consecutive seasons and was selected to the ABCA All-East Region First Team at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.
Sorrell returns to the batting order after missing the first half of the 2025 season with an injury. In 26 starts last season, he provided a major jolt to the lineup, slashing .337/.430/.789 with 12 home runs, 32 RBI and 23 runs scored. Of his 32 hits, 18 went for extra bases. The lefty outfielder recorded 11 multi-RBI contests, which ranked third on the squad. The Highland Village, Texas, native's offensive efforts earned him the title of Marion Pugh Most Valuable Player following the season.
Over 88 appearances in the Maroon & White, Sorrell owns a slash line of .296/.390/.635 with 23 home runs, 13 doubles, six triples, 75 RBI and 67 runs scored. He has earned preseason All-America distinctions from all four major publications and was tabbed to the Preseason All-SEC First Team earlier in the week.
Fans may vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com beginning on June 10, when the finalists for the award are revealed. The Golden Spikes Award voting body will carry a 95% weight of each player's total, and the fan vote will account for the remaining 5%.
The winner of the Golden Spikes Award will be announced on Monday, June 29 on MLB Network.
Follow the Aggies
Visit for more information on Texas A&M baseball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M baseball team on Facebook, Instagram and X by following @aggiebaseball.
The Golden Spikes Award has honored the top amateur baseball player in the nation since 1978 and is given to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
The preseason watch list nod marks the first Golden Spikes Award recognition for both Hacopian and Sorrell, while extending the Aggies' streak to three straight seasons with multiple players named to the preseason list.
The preseason list includes 55 players across high school and college baseball. Texas A&M is one of 13 schools with multiple players on the list, and the SEC leads the way with 16 student-athletes representing the conference. The Golden Spikes Advisory Board maintains the award's watch list on a rolling basis, allowing student-athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on in-season performance.
Hacopian comes to Aggieland with a career .347 batting average and 1.080 OPS over two full seasons at Maryland. In 2025, he led the Terrapins in batting average (.375), OPS (1.158) and hits (72). The righty slugger drilled 14 home runs, 12 doubles and plated 61 RBI while scoring 51 of his own. Hacopian showed a patient approach at the dish, drawing 40 walks against just 19 strikeouts.
The Potomac, Maryland, native has started in each of the 107 games he has appeared in over his career, blasting 29 home runs, 22 doubles, and driving in 103 RBI. Hacopian earned All-Big Ten honors in consecutive seasons and was selected to the ABCA All-East Region First Team at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.
Sorrell returns to the batting order after missing the first half of the 2025 season with an injury. In 26 starts last season, he provided a major jolt to the lineup, slashing .337/.430/.789 with 12 home runs, 32 RBI and 23 runs scored. Of his 32 hits, 18 went for extra bases. The lefty outfielder recorded 11 multi-RBI contests, which ranked third on the squad. The Highland Village, Texas, native's offensive efforts earned him the title of Marion Pugh Most Valuable Player following the season.
Over 88 appearances in the Maroon & White, Sorrell owns a slash line of .296/.390/.635 with 23 home runs, 13 doubles, six triples, 75 RBI and 67 runs scored. He has earned preseason All-America distinctions from all four major publications and was tabbed to the Preseason All-SEC First Team earlier in the week.
Fans may vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com beginning on June 10, when the finalists for the award are revealed. The Golden Spikes Award voting body will carry a 95% weight of each player's total, and the fan vote will account for the remaining 5%.
The winner of the Golden Spikes Award will be announced on Monday, June 29 on MLB Network.
Follow the Aggies
Visit for more information on Texas A&M baseball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M baseball team on Facebook, Instagram and X by following @aggiebaseball.
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