Cubs name 3B Kris Bryant, RHP Juan Paniagua Minor League Player, Pitcher of the Month for June

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today named Triple-A Iowa third baseman Kris Bryant and Single-A Kane County right-handed pitcher Juan Paniagua the organization's minor league player and pitcher of the month for June, respectively. 

Bryant, 22, combined to hit .354 (34-for-96) with 24 runs, eight doubles, 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 26 games between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. He walked 17 times to contribute to a .447 on-base percentage, and delivered a .781 slugging percentage to produce a 1.228 OPS. He twice homered in three-straight games, June 7-9 with Tennessee and June 22-24 with Iowa, including a multi-homer effort, June 22 against Albuquerque.

Bryant's 11 home runs in June led all of minor league baseball while his 19 extra-base hits tied for second and 27 RBI tied for third. Bryant's .781 slugging mark and 1.228 OPS were third among all full-season minor league players. He began June with a .373 average (19-for-51) in 14 games for Tennessee prior to winning the Double-A home run derby and participating in the Southern League's All-Star Game. He was then promoted to the Triple-A level for the first time in his career and homered in his first game with Iowa, June 19 against El Paso.

The second overall pick of the 2013 draft out of the University of San Diego, Bryant is hitting .357 (112-for-314) with 26 doubles, 29 home runs and 78 RBI in 86 games between Tennessee and Iowa this season. His 78 RBI and 55 extra-base hits lead all minor league players while his 29 home runs rank second. This is his second-straight Cubs minor league monthly honor.

Paniagua, 24, posted a 0.89 ERA (2 ER/20.1 IP) and a 3-0 record in four games (three starts) for Kane County in June. He allowed just four runs (two earned), walked five and struck out 26, good for an average of 11.5 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. Paniagua surrendered just one home run and limited opponents to a .194 batting average (14-for-72). He recorded consecutive starts of 6.0 scoreless innings, June 7 vs. Cedar Rapids and June 12 at Peoria.

Paniagua this season is 5-3 with one save and a 2.97 ERA (23 ER/69.2 IP) in 15 games (12 starts) for Kane County. He has walked 33 and struck out 65 in 69.2 innings, holding the opposition to a .227 batting average (57-for-251). Paniagua has surrendered three or fewer runs in each of his 12 starts and has held left-handed batters to a .208 average (21-for-101) and a .287 slugging percentage.

Signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in July of 2012, the native of Santo Domingo, D.R., Paniagua is 6-5 with a 3.92 ERA (48 ER/110.1 IP) in 31 games (22 starts) since the start of his 2012 season. He has surrendered just seven home runs in 483 batters faced and walked 60 compared to 110 strikeouts.