Bored Kris Bryant confident return to Cubs’ lineup will come soon

Sitting out bores Kris Bryant. Fortunately for him and the Cubs, it sounds as if Bryant won’t have to deal with boredom for much longer.

The Cubs announced Sunday that Bryant and reliever Brian Duensing will go to Class AA Tennessee on rehab assignments. On the disabled list since June 23 with left shoulder inflammation, Bryant once again took swings before Sunday’s game and is optimistic he’ll be back soon, perhaps as quickly as this week in San Francisco.

“You’re going to hit bumps in the road along the way, and this is certainly one of them,” Bryant said. “You learn a lot along the way. I’ve learned that I need to take a little better care of my body. I’m thankful that I said something and really got this under control when it did.”

Bryant said he doesn’t feel pain when he swings and hasn’t lost any timing, but he believes a brief rehab -assignment can help him make sure he’s good to go. The Cubs and Bryant also hope this issue doesn’t crop up again. He said that depends on his “stubbornness and if I kind of go out there and take the right amount of swings each day or take too many.”

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The Cubs haven’t lost too many games in Bryant’s absence, but that doesn’t mean sitting and watching has been entertaining.

“It’s been really boring. Really boring for me to kind of sit back and not be out there,” Bryant said. “I guess it’s kind of refueled some of that excitement for me, getting on the field and seeing the guys have a whole lot of fun.”

Comeback kids

With their 6-5, 10-inning victory, the Cubs have come from behind in their last nine wins. David Bote’s bases-loaded walk against Jackson Stephens decided it and gave the Cubs another dramatic victory.

Manager Joe Maddon sees the energy for rallies as a good sign.

“The dugout’s alive the whole time,” Maddon said. “When we get a little bit behind, the guys are still very much alive. The dynamic is good, meaning we’re a week away from the break. You talk about ’16, at this point we were limping into the break. For the most part, we’re getting guys back. The guys that are playing are playing with a lot of energy”

A matter of time

Kyle Hendricks will start Monday in San Francisco, and Maddon believes it won’t be long until Hendricks finds the form that made him one of the cornerstones of the rotation.

One of the reasons for Maddon’s confidence? Hendricks is healthy.

“Then there’s something about the feel of what he’s doing that’s a little bit off, and he’s so about that,” Maddon said. “As long as he’s healthy, which he is, that’s why I’m very confident that he’s going to be fine.”

Up and down

The Cubs put reliever Anthony Bass (illness) on the 10-day disabled list and called up Class AAA Iowa pitcher James Norwood.