Kavadas hit just .222/.370/.333 with two home runs and a 16:40 BB:K over 24 games in Double-A to finish off the 2022 campaign.
After smashing 24 homers with a 1.063 OPS in 86 games split between Single-A and High-A -- where in both cases he was older than the average player at the level -- Kavadas absolutely cratered upon his rise to Double-A. He struck out in 40 percent of his plate appearances with Portland, and his in-game power completely evaporated in the process. Kavadas did at least continue to draw plenty of walks, but that's not enough to offset such a brutal strikeout rate. All prospects come with some degree of risk, but Kavadas carries more than most.
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Red Sox's Niko Kavadas: Continues ascent to Double-A
Rotowire
The Red Sox promoted Kavadas from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland on Thursday.
An 11th-round pick out of Notre Dame last summer, Kavadas has put himself on the prospect radar after big showings at Greenville and Single-A Salem this season. After posting a 1.062 OPS while walking at a 22 percent clip at Salem earlier in the year, Kavadas more or less maintained that level of performance upon making the jump to Greenville on June 24. Over his 37-game stint in the South Atlantic League, Kavadas slashed .308/.472/.592 while walking 21.1 percent of the time and striking out at a 26.1 percent clip. Since he'll be limited to either first base or designated hitter if he ultimately reaches the big leagues, Kavadas will need to continue mashing in the upper levels of the minors while maintaining lofty walk rates and keeping his strikeouts in check before getting a look as an everyday player in Boston.
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Red Sox's Niko Kavadas: Racking up extra-base knocks
Rotowire
Kavadas has hit .333/.490/.744 with 10 home runs and a 20:25 BB:K since being promoted to High-A Greenville in late June.
He put up a 1.062 OPS through 59 games with Single-A Salem to earn the promotion, and Kavadas has been even better since moving up. Of course, he's also 23, meaning that Kavadas has been older than the average player at both levels, so it'll be important for him to keep hitting as he moves up through the minor leagues. That said, it's simply worth appreciating that he's managed to rack up 45 extra-base hits (24 homers, 20 doubles and a triple) in 83 minor-league games this year. Since he certainly has nothing left to prove in High-A, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Notre Dame product move up to Double-A later this month.
