SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (September 14, 2026) — Minor League Baseball announced on Monday that Salt Lake Bees first baseman Niko Kavadas has been named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 7-13.
Kavadas, 27, batted .417 during the week, collecting three home runs, three doubles, seven RBI and six runs scored while posting a 1.379 OPS. Kavadas closed out the series with a double in three straight games while six of his 10 hits went for extra base hits.
The week was highlighted by Kavadas' two-homer performance against Round Rock on September 10, when he launched a pair of home runs, including a 425-foot blast onto the berm at The Ballpark at America First Square.
Kavadas finished the week fourth in the PCL in batting average, second in home runs, second in RBI, second in slugging percentage and second in OPS. He tied for the league lead in both hits and extra-base hits while leading the PCL outright in total bases.
The honor marks the second PCL Player of the Week award of Kavadas' career. He previously earned the distinction for the week of Sept. 15-21, 2025, during the final series of the season in Las Vegas. Kavadas batted .318 (7-for-22) during that week, hitting five home runs with a double, nine RBI, six runs scored and a 1.393 OPS.
With two Player of the Week awards now on his resume, Kavadas becomes the first Salt Lake player to win multiple PCL Player of the Week honors since Peter Bourjos won the award twice in July 2010. He is also the first Bees player to earn PCL Player of the Week honors in multiple seasons since Sean Rodriguez, who won the award in July 2008 and August 2009.
Kavadas' selection also gives the Bees their second Player of the Week winner of the 2026 season, joining Ben Gobbel, who earned the honor for the week of June 30-July 5. It marks the first time since 2023 that Salt Lake has had multiple Player of the Week recipients in the same season, when Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell each earned the award.
Overall, Kavadas' honor is the sixth league award earned by a Bees player in 2026. Gobbel and George Klassen have each earned Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, while Caden Dana was named PCL Pitcher of the Week. Klassen was also named PCL Pitcher of the Month for July, and Denzer Guzman earned PCL Player of the Month honors for May.
Kavadas was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. The Los Angeles Angels acquired him from Boston on July 30, 2024, along with shortstop Matthew Lugo, right-handed pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn and right-handed pitcher Yeferson Vargas in exchange for right-handed pitcher Luis Garcia at the trade deadline.
Kavadas and the Bees will close out the 2026 campaign this week on the road against Albuquerque. The six-game season finale begins Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:35 p.m inside RGCU Field at Isotopes Park.
About the Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are entering their 25th season as the Triple-A affiliate of the Los
Angeles Angels and will continue to be the top affiliate of the Angels through the 2030
season. While with Los Angeles, Salt Lake owns five division championships and two
trips to the Pacific Coast League Finals. The Bees are in year two at The Ballpark at America First Square in Downtown Daybreak, providing a premier fan experience with family-friendly entertainment and community-focused initiatives throughout the season.
About The Ballpark at America First Square
The Ballpark at America First Square in Downtown Daybreak is located in South Jordan, Utah, and is home to the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Included in America First Square is a brand-new Bees Team store that is open non-game days, as well
as gamedays; a Megaplex that includes movies, bowling, games and dining;
restaurants; and a concert stage presented by Rio Tinto Kennecott.