MIAMI -- Given the strong showing that pitching prospect Ben Brown enjoyed over the first month of this season, it was time for the righty to take on a new challenge. This weekend, the Cubs moved Brown up to Triple-A Iowa.

Acquired from the Phillies for closer David Robertson at last summer's Trade Deadline, Brown was off to a stellar start to this year with Double-A Tennessee. He logged a 0.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts and six walks in 20 innings in his first four starts.

"Power arm, great fastball," Cubs vice president of player development Jared Banner said. "He still spins the breaking ball really well. He's been working on a new slider, [and] is also working on a changeup. So, it's just trying to round out his arsenal.

"But he's been great, missing a ton of bats and throwing a lot of strikes. That's a good combination."

Ranked by Pipeline as the Cubs' No. 7 prospect, the 23-year-old Brown leans mostly on a four-seamer and curveball. As Banner noted, part of the righty's development this season includes honing a changeup and working on a sweeping slider.

Last season, Brown posted a 3.38 ERA with 149 strikeouts and 36 walks between High-A Jersey Shore (Phillies) and Double-A Tennessee. In his four outings back at Double-A to start this season, he allowed just one earned run and held opposing batters to a .186 average.

Besides Brown, here are our unofficial picks for the players and pitchers of the month for April down on the Cubs farm:

TRIPLE-A IOWA

Player of the month: INF Christopher Morel
Through his first 23 games this season, the 23-year-old was batting .363/.463/.835 with 11 homers, eight doubles, 28 RBIs and 27 runs scored. He was still striking out at a high clip, but also had a 13.9% walk rate. Expect Morel to rejoin the Cubs at some point this season.

Pitcher of the month: RHP Riley Thompson
Ranked as the No. 27 prospect for the Cubs, the 26-year-old Thompson had a 2.40 ERA through four appearances (three starts) for the I-Cubs. In 15 innings, the righty racked up 19 strikeouts, issued six walks and held batters to a .102 average.

DOUBLE-A TENNESSEE

Player of the month: C Miguel Amaya
With apologies to outfielder Owen Caissie (No. 12) and his 1.003 OPS through 17 games, Amaya gets the nod. Coming back from multiple injury setbacks, the catching prospect (ranked No. 14) was batting .273/.411/.659 with four homers, five doubles and eight RBIs through 13 games for the Smokies.

HIGH-A SOUTH BEND

Player of the month: 1B Haydn McGeary
The 23-year-old McGeary -- selected in the '22 Draft -- went on an offensive tear in his first month. McGeary slugged .368/.467/.592 with three homers, eight doubles, 13 RBIs and 13 walks in 20 games to start his first full pro campaign.

Pitcher of the month: RHP Brandon Birdsell
Birdsell, 23, was a fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech in the '22 Draft and enjoyed a strong first month for South Bend. Through his first four starts, the right-hander fashioned a 0.57 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks and just four hits allowed (no homers) in 15 2/3 innings.

SINGLE-A MYRTLE BEACH

Player of the month: C Moisés Ballesteros
Ballesteros checks in at No. 19 on Pipeline's list for the Cubs and he has enjoyed an impressive start to his season. Through his first 16 games, the catcher was slashing .268/.386/.500 with four home runs, 12 RBIs and more walks (12) than strikeouts (10).

Pitcher of the month: RHP Cade Horton
Horton, who was the Cubs' first-round pick in '22 and ranks No. 4 on Pipeline's list for the North Siders, has been off to a brilliant start to his pro career. In his first three outings, Horton spun 10 1/3 shutout innings with 14 strikeouts and three walks. A move up to High-A South Bend could be in his future.