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Zagunis, Pimentel win Cubs' monthly awards

Chicago acquires lefty Rondon, international slot No. 4 for catcher Lopez

CHICAGO -- Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach outfielder Mark Zagunis and Triple-A Iowa right-handed pitcher Carlos Pimentel were named the Cubs' Minor League player and pitcher of the month for June, respectively.

Zagunis, 22, batted .326 with 23 runs scored, six doubles, one triple, four home runs, 16 RBIs and 14 walks in 26 games last month. He posted a .448 on-base percentage and a .537 slugging mark. In nine games from June 10-19, Zagunis hit .439 with four doubles, one triple, two home runs and 11 RBIs.

Pimentel, 25, was 4-1 with a 0.95 ERA, giving up three earned runs over 28 1/3 innings in five Iowa starts. He held opponents to a .192 batting average, did not give up a home run and posted four quality starts.

Pimentel's 0.95 June ERA led all Pacific Coast League pitchers, and his four June victories tied for the league lead. He signed a Minor League deal with the Cubs in November 2013 after seven seasons in the Rangers' system.

• The Cubs acquired Minor League left-handed pitching prospect Manny Rondon and international slot No. 4 from the Angels for catcher Rafael Lopez. Lopez, 27, was designated for assignment on June 27 after batting .276 with eight doubles, one triple, and 17 RBIs in 46 games with Iowa this season.

Rondon, 20, has gone 3-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 36 appearances (18 starts) covering three pro seasons in the Angels organization. He was a 2014 Dominican Summer League All Star when he posted a 2.30 ERA in 14 starts.

The 2015 season marks his first in the U.S.; he made two starts with the Angels' rookie league club in Arizona prior to the trade.

Video: KC@CHC: Soler blasts a two-run homer on a 3-0 count

• The Cubs hope to get outfielder Jorge Soler back before the All-Star break. Sidelined since early June with a sprained left ankle, Soler has been rehabbing at Iowa, and was 1-for-10 in three games.

• Right-hander Rafael Soriano, who the Cubs signed to a Minor League deal in June, has apparently obtained his visa and was expected in Mesa, Ariz., soon. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Soriano would work out at the Arizona facility, and then is expected to join the Double-A Tennessee team.

Asked if Soriano was pitching in games in the Dominican Republic, where he has been working out, manager Joe Maddon joked that the right-hander most likely was facing some of his relatives as competition.

• Donn Roach will start on Saturday, but with an off-day next week, the Cubs may skip him in the final series before the All-Star break. Roach was promoted from Iowa to take Tsuyoshi Wada's spot.

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