Tag: Niko Kavadas

Former Notre Dame star Niko Kavadas hits 3-run homer for first MLB hit

Talk about a big way to announce your arrival?

Former Notre Dame infielder [autotag]Niko Kavadas[/autotag] made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 16.

Entering the ninth inning of Thursday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, he was hitless in his first 14 big-league at-bats. It turned out he merely was lying in the weeds waiting for the right moment to say he’d arrived.

The Angels were trailing, 5-0, with two outs in the ninth innings and runners on first and second. Kavadas, who only has been a designated hitter so far in the bigs, stepped up to the plate. After working a 1-2 count and getting down to the Angels’ final strike, Kavadas swung and, well, look what happened:

This also was a big moment for St. Joseph County according to local sportscaster Chuck Freeby:

The Angels wound up losing, 5-3, but it was a night Kavadas never will forget. Let this be the first of many big moments for him at baseball’s highest level.

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Report: Former Notre Dame baseball star Niko Kavadas is headed to the big leagues

Congrats Niko!

It been a whirlwind last few weeks for former Notre Dame star first baseman [autotag]Niko Kavadas[/autotag].

After being drafted by the Boston Red Sox, where he spent his first few professional seasons before being traded in a deadline deal to the Los Angeles Angles.

The change of scenery wasn’t as surprise as Kavadas was blocked by Tristan Casas in Boston and then again with the Angels and Nolan Schanuel. However, it looks like his new team won’t let that stop his ascension, as Chuck Freeby reports that Kavadas will get called up to the major leagues on Friday to make his debut.

While his minor league numbers with his new team don’t look like they’d force the Angels hand, he did enough previous to warrant being called up. Expect Kavadas to primarily be the designated hitter, while getting some opportunities to play his natural position of first base.

Congrats to Niko on achieving his goal of playing at the highest level and continued success there.

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Niko Kavadas explains why Notre Dame was the perfect place for him

The South Bend native always knew where he wanted to go

Many of us are rooting for former Notre Dame baseball star 1st baseman [autotag]Niko Kavadas[/autotag].

The slugger was involved in a trade deadline deal, sending him from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Angles. Kavadas grew up in South Bend, while claiming that he was an Irish fan from the moment he was born.

His want to be part of Notre Dame translated over to his high school recruitment, where “he begged and pleaded the staff to come watch him play.” It clearly was a good choice for both parties, as Kavadas set the all-time season record for home runs during his senior campaign which he led the Irish to a Super Regional matchup against Mississippi State.

Notre Dame would fall to the eventual champions, but not before Kavadas had firmed planted his name into the history books and forever in our hearts. Since the move to the Angels organization, the power-hitter has struggled hitting only .114 with no homers and just 4 hits.

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Former Notre Dame star 1B, Niko Kavadas, traded in one of MLB’s deadline deals

The former Irish star has been dealt in a trade deadline deal

Although former Notre Dame baseball star first baseman [autotag]Niko Kavadas[/autotag] lasted until the 11th round of the MLB draft, he was seen as a solid piece for the Boston Red Sox.

Unfortunately for the slugger, he won’t get to say that Fenway Park is his MLB home (at least right now), as on Tuesday he was included in a deal that sent him to the Los Angeles Angels.

This season Kavadas has been crushing the ball, hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI. With first baseman Nolan Schanuel already making his debut with the Angels and sticking around with the big league club, there isn’t a natural fit for him at the big league level unless it’s as a designated hitter.

Hopefully Kavadas can force his way onto the 40-man roster, and make his Major League debut soon for the rebuilding Angels.

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Former Notre Dame Baseball Star Ripping Up AAA for Red Sox

On fire!

Former Notre Dame baseball standout [autotag]Niko Kavadas[/autotag] had quite the career for the Fighting Irish and now he’s trying to kick down the door to earn a spot in the majors.

Kavadas was drafted in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox and if April of 2024 is any indication, it won’t be long until he’s getting at-bats at Fenway Park for the big club.

Kavadas hit the cover off the ball in April, batting .290, cranking five home runs, and producing a 1.104 OPS for the Worcester Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of Boston.  For comparison, Kavadas had a 1.200 OPS for Notre Dame in 2021 when he earned All-American honors.

Here’s to hoping Kavadas continues his tear and finds himself in Boston before long.

Former Notre Dame star named Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year

Hardly a surprise if you watched him with Notre Dame…

If you have followed Notre Dame baseball over the past few years it will come as no surprise to you that [autotag]Niko Kavadas[/autotag] had a successful first run in the minor leagues after being selected in the 11th round by the Boston Red Sox in 2021.

Just how good of a year was it for the former Fighting Irish slugger?

Kavadas hit .280 with a .990 OPS in 120 games split between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A for the Red Sox this season.  He led the entire Red Sox minor league system in slugging percentage (.547), OPS, and RBI (tied) while ranking second-best in home runs and on-base percentage (.443)>

Put all of that together and it’s easy to understand why Kavadas was named the Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year on Monday.

Kavadas hit .280 with a .416 on-base percentage while slugging 46 home runs at Notre Dame from 2018-2021.  Check out some of the photos from his memorable career at Notre Dame below.

One Notre Dame player named to MLB Pipeline‘s Top-200 Draft prospects

It’s not who you think it is

The Irish have done well traditionally sending players off the the MLB, especially for a Midwest baseball team. Just last year pitcher [autotag]Tanner Kohlhepp[/autotag] and first baseman [autotag]Niko Kavadas[/autotag] were selected inside the first 11 rounds of the MLB Draft.

This coming season should see the same, as the Irish once again have a highly ranked squad and are facing off against North Carolina for a berth in the ACC Championship series. The NCAA Tournament looms large and so does the draft. Recently MLB Pipeline ranked the Top-200 draft prospects and had just one Notre Dame player on the list, and it’s not who many thought it would be.

Before looking at this list, my initial thought was where would pitcher [autotag]John Michael Bertrand[/autotag] land and if there was going to be another one of his teammates on this list. Well, the opposite happened and after looking over the list, it was why wasn’t JMB listed while [autotag]Jack Brannigan[/autotag] was.

This is no slight to Brannigan, who is a great player in his own right, but the ace of the Irish staff being left of this list is a big time omission. A left-handed power pitcher with a proven track record is what many teams should be looking for.

Back to Brannigan, who checked in as the 163rd player ranked and “has the best college arm in the Midwest” according to the scouting report. The two-way star is also projected to end up on the mound at the next level, but does want to start his professional career as a positional player. It surely will be interesting how teams handle that request.

Eithe way, the Irish have two very good draft eligible prospects but don’t be surprised to see a few other Notre Dame players get drafted as well.

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Former Notre Dame players in the minor leagues in 2022

Who should you keep tabs on this summer?

With Major League Baseball held up by a lockout, fans of America’s pastime might have to look elsewhere to get their fix for now. College baseball is the most obvious one at the moment since that season already has started. If fans have a little more patience, they will be able to keep up with the minor leagues in a month. Although there are much fewer teams than before, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of players to keep track of.

If you’re wondering if any former Notre Dame players are in the minors, you’re in luck. When the season begins, there will be quite a few players who once wore blue and gold working continuing their journey to baseball’s top level. If MLB gets its act together before it loses its whole season, you might see a few of these names with their parent club later this summer. Here’s who to look out for both this year and beyond:

Quick primer ahead of Notre Dame baseball’s season opener Friday

It’s almost time to play ball for the Irish

The NCAA baseball season begins for the Irish this weekend and the expectations are sky high. After a run to the Super Regionals last year, Link Jarrett has establish the program as one of the best in the Midwest quickly. In his first full season, the Irish finished first in the ACC’s Atlantic division, racking up a 25-10 conference record, 34-13 overall. Obviously we all remember their run in the NCAA tournament, but the brilliance spanned the whole season. Gone is slugging first baseman Niko Kavadas, but the Irish are still viewed as one of the best teams in the country heading into the 2022 season. Here is a quick primer of what to expect from this seasons squad.

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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.