Watch: Notre Dame alumnus Niko Kavadas hits first professional homer

The former Notre Dame slugger has made his mark professionally.

Niko Kavadas was the straw that stirred the lineup of a Notre Dame team that just missed the College World Series. Now, he’s starting to show off his power on the professional level. Kavadas, who signed with the Boston Red Sox after they drafted him in the 11th round, hit his first home run at the next level in his fifth professional game. It came during the Florida Complex League Red Sox’s 11-5 win over the FCL Twins:

Kavadas was a First Team All-American for the Irish in 2021, and he also made First Team All-ACC. The two-time captain’s 22 home runs set a program record and ranked among the national leaders. He hit 0.47 home runs a game to become the national leader in that category and was fourth nationally with 1.36 RBIs a game. He also led the Irish with 64 RBIs, and his .767 slugging percentage ranks second on the program’s single-season list.

Here’s to the beginning of what hopefully will be a long professional career for Kavadas.