Former Panther signs minor league deal

It has been a whirlwind month for Artemis Kadkhodaian.

The former Starr’s Mill baseball standout, who graduated in the spring from the University of West Georgia, signed a minor league contract June 30 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as an undrafted free agent. The signing took place at the Angels’ minor league facility in Arizona after he participated in a workout at the club’s invitation.

His parents, Frank and Patti, were able to be present for the signing, after which Artemis played five games in the Arizona League. After the July 6 game he got word that he was leaving early the next morning for Appleton, Wisc., where he would join his new team, the Burlington (Iowa) Bees, on the road against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Kadkhodaians made a quick trip up there as well, watching their son play in the July 8-9 weekend games.

Through his first six games in Burlington, Kadkhodaian hit .375 with one home run and five RBI while playing second base and shortstop. He was 2-for-4 and drove in a run in Sunday’s 7-6 win over Lake County.

The Bees were 41-52 in Midwest League play through Sunday. The team’s official website is gobees.com.

[Photo/Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees.]