Niko Kavadas Bio
Nikolos Siade Kavadas (born October 27, 1998) is an American professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter in the Los Angeles Angels organization. A left-handed power hitter, he rose through the college ranks at Notre Dame before beginning his professional career in 2021. He is best known for setting a Notre Dame single-season home run record and later making his Major League Baseball debut with the Angels in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Nikolos Siade Kavadas was born on October 27, 1998, in Granger, Indiana, and grew up in the same community. He attended Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, where he developed into a standout hitter. As a junior, he was named first team All-Northern Indiana Conference and Class 4-A All-State after posting a .440 batting average with three home runs, 14 doubles, and 44 RBIs.
His performance at Penn drew attention from college recruiters across the region, and he ultimately committed to play college baseball at the University of Notre Dame. Growing up in the Midwest, Kavadas was surrounded by a strong baseball culture, which helped shape his approach at the plate and his work ethic in the weight room. His size and left-handed power stroke made him a prospect that major college programs wanted to develop further.
Path to Baseball
Kavadas played college baseball at Notre Dame for four seasons, gradually transforming from a promising freshman into one of the most powerful hitters in the Atlantic Coast Conference. After his freshman year, he spent a summer with the Kalamazoo Growlers of the Northwoods League, where he batted .308 and gained valuable experience against older competition. The following summer, he joined the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, earned all-star honors, and tied for the league lead with nine home runs in 40 games.
His junior season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, limiting him to 13 games in which he hit .255 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs. In his senior year, Kavadas batted .302 and set a Notre Dame single-season record with 22 home runs, driving in 64 runs. He was named first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and a first team All-American by Baseball America. He finished his collegiate career with 46 home runs and 146 RBIs while batting .286 over 161 games, establishing himself as one of the top power-hitting prospects in the 2021 draft class.
Niko Kavadas Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
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 team on August 1, 2021, and received a $250,000 signing bonus. He began his professional career with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox before being promoted to the Low-A Salem Red Sox later that month. In 15 total games during his debut season, he batted .256 with two home runs and six RBIs.
In 2022, Kavadas moved quickly through the Red Sox system, playing for Salem, the High-A Greenville Drive, and the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. Across 393 at-bats, he produced a .280/.443/.547 slash line and finished second in all of minor league baseball with 102 walks. His strong on-base skills and power potential earned him the Red Sox organization’s minor-league Offensive Player of the Year award, and he was invited to the Arizona Fall League following the season.
Red Sox System Progression (2023–2024)
Kavadas split the 2023 season between Double-A Portland and the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, combining to hit .206 with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs. While his batting average dipped, his power output remained a hallmark of his offensive profile. He returned to Worcester to begin the 2024 season, where he hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs across 83 games, re-establishing himself as a consistent middle-of-the-order threat.
On July 30, 2024, Kavadas was traded to the Los Angeles Angels as part of a package that included Matthew Lugo, Yeferson Vargas, and Ryan Zeferjahn, with the Red Sox receiving Luis García in return. In 11 games for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, he struggled to a .159/.229/.341 slash line but still showed flashes of his power. On August 16, 2024, he was added to the Angels’ 40-man roster and made his major league debut. Eight days later, on August 24, he recorded his first major league hit, a three-run opposite-field home run in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. In 30 appearances during his rookie campaign, he slashed .183/.283/.333 with four home runs, eight RBIs, and one stolen base.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2024–Present)
Following his debut season, Kavadas was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to begin the 2025 campaign as the Angels continued to develop his plate discipline and power. He appeared in 10 games for Los Angeles during the year, going 2-for-20 with three walks, while spending the bulk of his time refining his swing in the Pacific Coast League. On August 27, 2025, in a blowout loss to the Texas Rangers, he made a memorable relief appearance on the mound, pitching 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings and recording his first career strikeout against outfielder Joc Pederson.
On September 12, 2025, the Angels designated Kavadas for assignment. He cleared waivers two days later and was sent outright to Triple-A Salt Lake on September 14, keeping him within the organization as he continued his development as a power-hitting first baseman and designated hitter.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kavadas is best known for his left-handed power and exceptional plate discipline. His ability to draw walks at a high rate has been a defining trait throughout his career, including a 2022 minor-league season in which he ranked second in all of professional baseball with 102 free passes. He pairs that selectivity with above-average raw strength, allowing him to drive the ball to all fields, including the opposite-field home run he hit in his first major league game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Kavadas set a Notre Dame single-season home run record with 22 homers in his senior year, earned first team All-American honors from Baseball America, and was named the Red Sox organization’s minor-league Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. His first major league hit, a three-run opposite-field homer against Toronto, and his unexpected scoreless relief appearance against the Texas Rangers stand out as signature moments of his young professional career.
Niko Kavadas Career Wins
Because professional baseball players accumulate individual statistical achievements rather than traditional win counts, Kavadas’s career is measured by his offensive production and milestones at each level. He set a Notre Dame single-season record with 22 home runs in his senior year, led the Cape Cod Baseball League with nine home runs in 2019, and ranked second in the minor leagues with 102 walks in 2022. His first major league hit was a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 24, 2024.
Minor League Highlights
Kavadas has produced consistent power numbers throughout his minor-league career, most notably a 22-home-run season in 2023 split between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. In 2024, he hit 17 home runs and drove in 63 runs for the Worcester Red Sox before being traded to the Angels organization. He was recognized as the Red Sox minor-league Offensive Player of the Year following his 2022 campaign.
Major League Performances
In 30 appearances during his 2024 rookie season with the Angels, Kavadas slashed .183/.283/.333 with four home runs and eight RBIs. His first major league hit, a three-run opposite-field home run against Toronto, served as the defining moment of his debut campaign.
Niko Kavadas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Kavadas’s immediate family and upbringing remains limited. He grew up in Granger, Indiana, and developed his baseball skills in the local community before attending Penn High School and the University of Notre Dame.
Personal Life
Details about Kavadas’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He continues to focus on his professional baseball career within the Los Angeles Angels organization.
2025 Season Performance
Kavadas entered the 2025 season aiming to build on his late-2024 major league debut with the Angels. After being optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, he worked to refine his offensive approach and earn another opportunity at the major league level. He appeared in 10 games for Los Angeles, going 2-for-20 with three walks, while continuing to develop his plate discipline in the Pacific Coast League.
A unique highlight of his 2025 campaign came on August 27, when he was called upon to pitch 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings in a blowout loss to the Texas Rangers, recording his first career strikeout against Joc Pederson. The appearance demonstrated his willingness to contribute in any role the team needed. On September 12, he was designated for assignment before clearing waivers and being outrighted to Salt Lake on September 14, keeping him within the Angels system as he looks toward a potential return to the major league roster.