Former Penn High School student Niko Kavadas got the call that Baseball players dream of – a roster spot in Major League Baseball. Kavadas was called up by the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 16. This is another milestone in his ongoing career.
It took Kavadas games to adjust to the new caliber of pitching until he acquired his first hit on August 22. This hit wasn’t just a normal one though. His first hit was a solo home run to left field. On September 9, Kavadas had his first multi-hit game which included a double and a 2-run home run.
In 30 MLB games, Kavadas hit four homers and drove in eight runs. He finished strong, hitting .261 in his last 15 games.
“Seeing a former Penn Baseball player make it to the MLB is very inspiring in more ways than one,” Penn First Baseman Will Barnes said. “Knowing that Niko was in the same position as me just a few years ago and now he’s playing at the highest level makes me confident in this program and its ability to develop great baseball players.”
During his time at Penn, Kavadas helped the Kingsmen win the 2015 4-A State Championship. His shift from first base to shortstop was a key factor in Penn’s 2017 run to the State Championship game.
Kavadas attended the University of Notre Dame after his Penn career. His senior season at Notre Dame, Kavadas led the team to a College Baseball World Series Final. During this season he slashed .302/.473/.767, with 42 runs, 48 hits, 8 doubles, 22 home runs, 64 RBIs. Kavadas also received two First Team All-American honors, and was a Golden Spikes award Finalist.
In 2021, Kavadas was drafted in the 11th round of the MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. He spent four years in the minors across four levels of the minors. On July 30, he was traded to the Los Angeles and assigned to triple-a Salt Lake City. Over his time in the minor leagues, he hit .250/.409/.907, with 69 home runs and 228 RBIs.
