CINCINNATI -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon has been giving Ben Zobrist his space while the veteran works through a comeback attempt this month. No texts or phone calls are needed right now. Maddon just wants Zobrist to focus on playing, without feeling any urgency coming from Chicago.

Maddon has, however, been getting updates on how Zobrist has been doing during his ongoing Minor League assignment. The manager heard about Zobrist's home run for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach on Thursday, saw videos of Zobrist signing autographs for fans and learned that the utility man has been buying meals for his temporary teammates.

"That was just typical Zo stuff," Maddon said on Friday at Great American Ball Park.

The 38-year-old Zobrist played second base and went 1-for-3 with a homer for Myrtle Beach on Friday -- a day after going 1-for-4 with a home run. That followed last weekend's three-game stay with Class A South Bend. Zobrist is slated to suit up again for the Pelicans on Saturday, and then the Cubs will convene and determine the next step.

Zobrist has been on Major League Baseball's restricted list since May 8 in order to tend to a family situation. He informed the Cubs last month that he wanted to try to return this season, and the club worked with Zobrist on mapping out a plan. Barring any setbacks, and if Zobrist convinces Chicago that he is able to play at a high level after missing three months, he might return in time for September.

"He is focused on his home and his kids and getting back with the Cubs," Maddon said. "And that's all that matters to him right now. So, I respect that, and I know him well enough to know that's exactly what he's doing."

Maddon has said a few times that Zobrist can do anything in the Majors that he's doing on a Minor League field during this assignment. With that in mind, the manager added that he has already been encouraged by the reports of how Zobrist has fared down on the farm in these first few games.

"Whatever you see him doing there, he's going to be able to do here," Maddon said. "This is a guy that's done it here. Great track record. My biggest concern is that, is he able to catch up to the fastball? Is he slowing down? How is he moving on the infield? How's his arm stroke look? If that all looks normal, then it's going to look normal here, too."

Worth noting
• Prior to Friday's game against the Reds, the Cubs placed left-hander Kyle Ryan on MLB's bereavement list and recalled righty Alec Mills from Triple-A Iowa. Ryan, who has a 1.07 ERA in his past 27 games after logging 2 1/3 shutout innings in Thursday night's 12-5 win over the Reds, is allowed to be away from the team for three to seven days.

"I told him, 'Listen, man, you take care of your family first,'" Maddon said. "He's been solid. And he's been getting righties out, too. It's not like it's just a lefty specialist. He knows what he's doing against righties also. He's been very good. You just trust him."

• Javier Baez hit left-handed in the ninth inning of Thursday's win over the Reds, who had utility man Kyle Farmer on the mound. Baez flew out on the first pitch and said he might consider trying it again under similar, blowout circumstances. Maddon remains convinced Baez could have been a switch-hitter.

"I'm not kidding, man. I think he could do that," Maddon said. "I know he's not going to want to do it, and he's probably never going to do it. ... If he had done it when he was 17 or 18, he'd be a switch-hitter today. There's no doubt."

• Maddon is still sorting through how to divvy up the innings between catchers Victor Caratini and Jonathan Lucroy. Caratini started on Friday with Yu Darvish pitching, and Lucroy will be behind the plate on Saturday with Kyle Hendricks starting. Maddon is undecided on which catcher will start Sunday with veteran lefty Jon Lester on the mound.