ST. LOUIS _ Kris Bryant assured reporters that he will return to the Cubs this season while tamping down speculation that his ailing left shoulder will require offseason surgery.
"I wouldn't even get to that point at all," Bryant said after a cortisone shot and a second MRI confirmed a recurrence of the inflammation.
Furthermore, Bryant vowed to return to his normal production levels when he comes back.
"There's not a doubt in my mind I'll be better," Bryant said.
But for the second time in five weeks, Bryant faces the dilemma of avoiding a recurrence of the pain that sidelined him for 16 games. Bryant has yet to swing a bat since Monday, when the pain became too acute to play.
"I'm trying to be smart about it and stubborn, like most of us are."
There is no target date yet for his return, though he is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list Aug. 3. Bryant says he merely will follow the orders of the medical staff and not try to rush his return.
"If I wanted to be a doctor, I probably would have been one," Bryant said. "But I like what I do. I stay out of that stuff."
Bryant stood by the decision to return originally July 11 after only two minor-league rehab games, adding that there's more non-baseball work for him and vowing he won't change his swing for the sake of alleviating any pain.
"There's not much I have to change," Bryant said. "Just not overdo myself."
Manager Joe Maddon also stressed patience.
"There's nothing you can do about it," Maddon said. "It's a rest thing as far as I can tell. And a tolerance thing. And he's not used to it."
