MESA, Ariz. -- David Bote wanted to remain in Sunday's game against the Giants, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon was not going to take any chances after the infielder was struck in the helmet by a pitch from Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner.

On Monday morning, Bote was scheduled to be evaluated further by a doctor, but the initial on-site tests by a Giants team doctor at Scottsdale Stadium did not reveal anything alarming. Even so, Chicago will take a cautious approach in organizing Bote's workout and return-to-game schedule this week.

"I went out there and he was fine," Maddon said. "He didn't lose consciousness or anything like that, but I did not like where it seemed to hit him. And he just seemed unstable in that moment. I didn't like it. So, I just said, 'David,' and he's wanting to stay in, and I said, 'Listen, this is not September or October. This is February whatever. Let's just do this right now, make sure that you're fine and we'll move it on from there.' That's exactly how it came down."

Giants catcher Rene Rivera told reporters that the second-inning incident was a "weird play," because the pitch was elevated and over the middle. As Bote leaned in to track the pitch, it struck him in the head and forced the Cubs infielder to one knee. After being checked at home plate, Bote walked off the field under his own power with Maddon and assistant athletic trainer Matt Johnson at his side.

"He's doing OK," Maddon said. "He appears to be trending in the right direction. Nothing seems to be awful, but we still have to see the doctor first [on Monday], figure out the next step."

Bote projects to open the season as a utility man for the Cubs, offering depth at second base, shortstop and third. Last season, the 25-year-old Bote hit .239 with six homers, 33 RBIs and a .727 OPS in 74 games as a rookie. He gained national attention when he launched a pinch-hit, walk-off grand slam on Aug. 12 against the Nationals.

With Addison Russell set to begin the season on the restricted list -- where he will remain for the first month while finishing out a 40-game suspension for violating MLB's Domestic Violence Policy -- Bote is the primary backup at shortstop behind Javier Baez. Veteran Daniel Descalso could be used in that role, if necessary. Behind them, Minor Leaguers Ryan Court, Trent Giambrone and Zack Short represent alternatives for a utility job.

"We have nice players back there that just need opportunity," Maddon said. "But, honestly, I did not focus on that yet. There's always [internal options] and there's also the potential possibility to reach out somewhere else. For right now, I think we have some nice guys within the Minor League system."

Maddon stressing first step

In the bottom of the second on Sunday, Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber made a great diving catch at the foul line on a fly ball from San Francisco's Henry Ramos. Maddon said that play by Schwarber, who made defensive strides last season, was a great example of the manager's Spring Training emphasis on having the defense improve on the first step this season.

"I'm really trying to convince them that the big plays are made on the front part of the play -- not the latter part," Maddon said. "You all saw him at the end -- scraping his arm, falling down, whatever he did at the end -- but, to get there, the first move has to be efficient. So, I really want them to understand that what you do at the beginning of the play totally impacts what happens at the conclusion."

Worth noting

• Maddon said he has yet to talk to 37-year-old Ben Zobrist about whether the veteran utility man plans on playing beyond the 2019 season. Zobrist, who will be eased into Cactus League games this spring, is entering the final season of the four-year contract he signed with the Cubs.

"I would bet that the season's going to tell him exactly what he wants to do," Maddon said. "I'm sure at some point he may talk to me about something, but he looks good. He looked really good last year also, and he's got an energy for this. So, let it play out."

• Tyler Chatwood's pitching line on Sunday featured some mixed results (two innings, two hits, two runs, one strikeout, one walk, one hit batsman and one home run), but Maddon said he saw a cleaner, more efficient delivery from the right-hander.

"Simplified delivery -- no question," Maddon said. "I liked the way he finished in his delivery. He wasn't falling all over the place. It looks like he had a really good [direction to the plate]. You always talk about maximum effort. He was not. He was not. He was more smooth in the whole thing."

Up next

Right-hander Yu Darvish is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday, when the Cubs host the D-backs at 2:05 p.m. CT at Sloan Park. Darvish is coming off an injury-marred 2018 campaign in which he made only eight starts, but the pitcher has looked strong so far this spring. Righty Zack Godley is slated to start for Arizona.