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Extra bases

• Kane County infielder Rock Shoulders and Tennessee left-handed pitcher Eric Jokisch were named the Cubs' Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for April, respectively.

Shoulders, 21, hit .370 with 19 runs scored, seven doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs in 22 April games for the Class A Cougars. He posted a .457 on-base percentage, thanks in part to 13 walks, and had a .642 slugging percentage to give him a 1.099 OPS for the month, the second-highest mark in the Midwest League.

Shoulders was tied for third in the league in runs scored, home runs and extra-base hits (12), fourth in batting average and tied for fourth in hits.

Jokisch, 23, went 3-1 with a 1.84 ERA in five April starts for the Double-A Smokies, striking out 21 while walking six and limiting opponents to a .240 batting average. He began the season going at least six innings while allowing one or no runs in each of his first four starts. Jokisch finished the month tied for fifth in the Southern League in victories, tied for eighth in innings pitched and ninth in ERA.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat.
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