Former Red Sox minor leaguer Niko Kavadas hits first big league homer for the Angels
With roughly five minutes before the trade deadline on July 30, Niko Kavadas learned he was no longer a member of the Red Sox organization. The slugger was involved in a four-player deal that sent him to the Los Angeles Angels for veteran right-handed reliever Luis Garcia.
Kavadas was called up by the Angels shortly after the trade, making his big league debut on Aug. 16 and batting cleanup. The former Notre Dame product struggled out of the gate, going hitless in his first 14 plate appearances.
His hitless streak would come to an end on Thursday. With the Angels trailing 5-0, two outs in the top of the ninth, and runners on first and second base, Kavadas stepped to the plate. Already 0-for-3 on the night and quickly down in the count to 1-2, Kavadas connected on an 86.8-mph slider off Blue Jays right Tommy Nance. The ball left Kavadas’ bat at 99.2 mph and traveled 360 feet over the left field wall for his first major league hit and home run.
"Definitely a big relief," Kavadas said about his first major league hit to reporters following the game.
Kavadas also became the first player to attend St. Joe County High School to get a MLB hit since Steve Ontiveros in 1989 and the first to homer since Bob Rush in 1955, according to Chuck Freeby.
Dom Smith signs a MLB deal with the Reds and makes his debut on Thursday
It didn’t take free agent Dominic Smith much time to find a new big league home following his release from the Red Sox.
Smith officially signed a major-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday and made his debut with the club, batting seventh and playing first base.
The 29-year-old went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. Pirates All-Star hurler Paul Skenes struck out Smith twice, once looking in his first plate appearance and once swinging later in the game.
Following his release from the Red Sox, skipper Alex Cora said he was disappointed to lose the veteran first baseman, calling him an “outstanding” addition to the club back in May.
Smith held down the fort at first base, while Triston Casas was on the injured list with a rib injury. He batted .237 with six homers and 34 RBI in 83 games with Boston.
Recently released Red Sox pitching prospect joins Canadian team
Former Red Sox left-handed minor league pitcher Nathan Landry has found a new home. The 25-year-old signed a deal with the Trois-Rivières Aigles of the Frontier League, the team announced on Instagram.
Landry was initially selected by the Red Sox 459th overall in the 15th round of the 2022 MLB draft. He would spend two seasons pitching in High-A for the Greenville Drive, including winning the 2023 South Atlantic League title.
During his time in the Sox’ organization, Landry went 3-2 with a 5.27 ERA, striking out 87 batters in 82 innings. This past season, he made 24 relief appearances and recorded a 5.24 ERA in 46 1/3 innings. He walked 27 opposing hitters, doubling his total from last season (13).
