Niko Kavadas has been named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 7-13, according to the Salt Lake Bees, following a standout performance in which the first baseman batted .417. Despite Kavadas' individual accolades, the Bees concluded their 2026 home campaign with a 9-6 loss to the Round Rock Express in front of a record crowd of 7,853 fans.
Kavadas Dominates Weekly Stats
Kavadas, 27, collected three home runs, three doubles, seven RBI, and six runs scored during the week of Sept. 7-13. He posted a 1.379 OPS and saw six of his 10 hits go for extra bases. The Bees first baseman closed out the series with a double in three consecutive games, as reported by the Salt Lake Bees.
Bees Conclude Home Campaign
While Kavadas earned weekly honors, the Salt Lake Bees faced a difficult finish to their season. On Sept. 14, the Bees dropped their final home contest of the 2026 season to the Round Rock Express by a score of 9-6. The Express secured the victory with five early runs and an Aaron Zavala two-run blast in the sixth inning. The loss marked the end of the Bees' home schedule, which included a victory over Round Rock on Sept. 10 where Kavadas hit two home runs in an 11-1 win.
Season Struggles and Successes
The Bees' season performance included a mix of high-scoring rallies and late-inning struggles. On Sept. 12, the Bees fell 13-0 to Round Rock on a Saturday night, a game in which they were held scoreless despite an early six-run deficit. This followed a 5-4 loss on Sept. 11, where the Bees attempted a ninth-inning comeback but were unable to overcome an early 5-0 margin. Earlier in the season, the Bees achieved a significant milestone on Aug. 31, when they secured a 7-6 victory over Tacoma in 10 innings, marking their second consecutive extra-inning win.
Key Player Statistics
The Bees' roster featured several standout performers throughout the season. Nelson Rada, a center fielder ranked as the club's No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, finished the season with a .272 batting average and 36 stolen bases across 122 games. Rada, who is 21 years old, has been noted for his on-base skills and baserunning acumen, despite having a lower power profile. Other key contributors included Yolmer Sánchez, who played 119 games and recorded 74 RBI, and Pablo Reyes, who hit .364 and drove in 23 runs.
Season Standings and Outlook
The Salt Lake Bees, an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, concluded their 2026 season with a record of 62-75. As reported by MLB.com, the team will not qualify for the playoffs this year. The team's season included a notable series against the Sacramento River Cats in early September, where the Bees managed to win a game on Sept. 6 with a 6-3 victory in the ninth inning, despite a previous 6-3 loss to the same opponent on Sept. 5.
River Cats Season Recap
The Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, also concluded their season with a series of notable performances. The River Cats' recent history included a series win against the Salt Lake Bees on Sept. 3, which was secured via a walk-off three-run home run by Charlie Szykowny. The River Cats also saw standout performances from Bo Davidson, who was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Month for August after batting .323 and leading the league in total bases and RBI.
Looking Toward 2027
Looking ahead to the 2027 season, the Salt Lake Bees have already released their 150-game schedule. The upcoming season follows a year defined by both individual breakthroughs, such as Kavadas' weekly honors, and a challenging final stretch in the Pacific Coast League standings.
