Niko Kavadas Bio
Nikolos Siade Kavadas (born October 27, 1998) is an American professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter currently in the Los Angeles Angels organization. A 2021 draft pick of the Boston Red Sox, Kavadas developed his skills at Penn High School in Granger, Indiana, before becoming a standout at the University of Notre Dame where he set a single-season home run record. After progressing through the minor leagues, he made his major league debut with the Angels in August 2024.
Early Life and Background
Kavadas grew up in Granger, Indiana, where he attended Penn High School. During his junior year, he established himself as one of the top high school players in the state by hitting .440 with three home runs, 14 doubles, and 44 RBIs. His exceptional performance earned him first team All-Northern Indiana Conference honors and Class 4-A All-State recognition, signaling his potential as a future professional player.
After graduating from Penn High School, Kavadas chose to continue his baseball career at the University of Notre Dame, one of the premier college baseball programs in the United States. His combination of power hitting and defensive ability at first base made him an attractive prospect for major league scouts.
Path to Professional Baseball
Before his sophomore season at Notre Dame in 2019, Kavadas played in the Northwoods League for the Kalamazoo Growlers, where he compiled a .308 batting average against collegiate competition. That summer, he elevated his game further by joining the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most prestigious summer collegiate baseball leagues in the country.
At Harwich, Kavadas demonstrated his power-hitting ability by tying for the league lead with nine home runs in just 40 games. His performance earned him Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star honors and significantly boosted his visibility among professional scouts. The Cape Cod League has a long history of developing players who go on to successful professional careers.
His junior season at Notre Dame was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, limiting him to just 13 games with seven home runs and 17 RBIs. Despite the abbreviated season, he returned for his senior year and put together the best season of his collegiate career.
Niko Kavadas Career
College Career at Notre Dame (2017–2021)
Kavadas played four seasons of college baseball at Notre Dame, establishing himself as one of the most prolific power hitters in the program’s history. After his freshman season, he spent summers in collegiate summer leagues to develop his skills against top competition. His performance in these leagues helped him refine his swing and approach at the plate.
In his senior season, Kavadas delivered a historic performance by batting .302 and hitting a school record 22 home runs with 64 RBIs. The left-handed hitter’s combination of power and consistency earned him first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and first team All-American recognition from Baseball America. He finished his Notre Dame career with 46 career home runs and 146 RBIs while posting a .286 batting average across 161 games, leaving as one of the most decorated hitters in program history.
Professional Career and Minor League Development (2021–2024)
Kavadas was selected in the 11th round, with the 316th overall pick, of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox. He signed with the organization on August 1, 2021, receiving a $250,000 signing bonus. He was initially assigned to the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox before earning a promotion to the Low-A Salem Red Sox in August. In his brief 15-game professional debut, he batted .256 with two home runs and six RBIs.
The 2022 season marked a breakthrough for Kavadas as he climbed three levels of the Red Sox minor league system, playing for Salem, the High-A Greenville Drive, and the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He posted an outstanding .280/.443/.547 slash line across 393 at-bats and drew 102 walks, ranking second in all of minor league baseball in that category. His patient approach at the plate combined with his power made him one of the most promising prospects in the Red Sox organization. He was recognized as the Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year and was selected to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League following the season.
Kavadas split the 2023 season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, combining to hit .206 with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs across 107 games. He returned to Worcester to begin the 2024 season, where he showed improved form by hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 83 games, positioning himself for a potential major league call-up.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2024–Present)
On July 30, 2024, Kavadas was traded to the Los Angeles Angels organization as part of a multi-player exchange, going to Boston in return for infielder Luis García. He joined Matthew Lugo, Yeferson Vargas, and Ryan Zeferjahn in the Angels system. After the trade, he reported to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, where he struggled initially by slashing .159/.229/.341 with two home runs and four RBIs in 11 games.
Despite his limited Triple-A production, Kavadas was selected to the Angels 40-man roster and made his major league debut on August 16, 2024. Six days later, on August 24, he recorded his first major league hit in dramatic fashion by hitting a three-run home run to the opposite field in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. The moment represented the culmination of his journey from Notre Dame to professional baseball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kavadas appeared in 30 games during his rookie season with the Angels, compiling a .183/.283/.333 slash line with four home runs, eight RBIs, and one stolen base. His ability to get on base was evident through his 11 walks against 21 strikeouts, maintaining the patient approach at the plate that characterized his minor league success. His first major league home run provided a memorable moment in an otherwise challenging initial major league experience.
Niko Kavadas Career Statistics
Kavadas has accumulated professional experience across multiple levels of minor league baseball before establishing himself in the major leagues. His power-hitting ability has been his most consistent tool throughout his professional career.
Major League Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Kavadas has appeared in 40 major league games with the Angels, posting a .168 batting average with four home runs and eight RBIs. His rookie campaign in 2024 provided him with valuable experience against major league pitching, though he faced the challenges typical of young players adjusting to the highest level of competition. His ability to work counts and draw walks remained evident even at the major league level.
Minor League Highlights
Kavadas established himself as one of the premier power hitters in the Red Sox minor league system. His 2022 season stands out as exceptional, with a .280/.443/.547 slash line and 102 walks across three levels. His minor league career has featured consistent home run production, including a 22-homer season at Triple-A Worcester in 2023 and a 17-homer start to 2024 before his promotion to the majors.
| Level | Games | Home Runs | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major League (2024–2025) | 40 | 4 | 8 |
| Triple-A (2023–2024) | 190 | 39 | 132 |
| Double-A (2022–2023) | 91 | 18 | 56 |
Family
Personal Life
Kavadas hails from Granger, Indiana, and attended Penn High School before embarking on his collegiate career at Notre Dame. He has maintained a connection to his Indiana roots throughout his baseball journey. His development from a high school standout in northern Indiana to a Division I college star and eventual major league player reflects his dedication to the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Kavadas began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees after being optioned to minor league camp during spring training. He experienced a challenging start to the season while continuing to work on his game at the Triple-A level. His season took an unexpected turn on August 27, 2025, when he was called upon to pitch during a blowout loss to the Texas Rangers, recording 1.2 scoreless innings of relief and earning his first career strikeout against Rangers outfielder Joc Pederson. In 10 appearances for the major league club, he went 2-for-20 at the plate with three walks. On September 12, 2025, the Angels designated Kavadas for assignment. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Salt Lake on September 14, 2025, remaining in the Angels organization as he continues to develop his game at the Triple-A level with an opportunity to earn another major league roster spot in the future.