Kyle Schwarber, Pierce Johnson honored by Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs announced the recipients of the organizational minor league player and pitcher of the month for August, designating 2014 first-round draft pick Kyle Schwarber as the top player and Pierce Johnson as the top arm in the Cubs’ system, Thursday.

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According to a release from the Daytona Cubs, the catcher-outfielder Schwarber hit .330 with eight home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs, eight doubles and a triple to go along with a .660 slugging percentage in the month of August. From Aug. 15 to Aug. 27, he put together a 15-game hitting streak during which he went 25-for-60 with seven home runs, including a five-day stretch that included six home runs.

He tied for the Florida State League lead in August with his eight home runs and also led the FSL in extra-base hits, slugging percentage and OPS. During the month, he was also named the FSL Player of the Week for the week ending on Aug. 24. In two postseason contests for the Cubs, the former Indiana University standout has six RBIs.

Johnson, who is with Double-A Tennessee this season, went 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in six starts last month for the Smokies. This year, in 17 starts, the 23-year-old right-hander is 5-4 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.244 WHIP. In August, Johnson allowed fewer than three earned in all but one start for the club, beginning the month with a 16 inning scoreless streak.

A release from the Smokies detailed his dominance early in the month:

"The righty took no-hit bids into the sixth inning in two consecutive starts between August 3-10, and ranked second in the Southern League in strikeouts in August, as well as fifth in earned-run average. In addition, Johnson paced all Cubs farmhands in strikeouts, in addition to second in ERA and fourth in WHIP."

In his Minor League career, the Missouri State alum is 16-11 with a 2.68 ERA, including 237 strikeouts in 232 innings pitched.

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