CHICAGO -- Tony Kemp opted against donning a nickname for Players' Weekend. Instead, the Cubs infielder wanted to use the opportunity to wear a different name on the back of his jersey as a way to honor his father-in-law.

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Kemp headed out to second base for Friday's game against the Nationals with "Chieng" across his back. That is his wife Michelle's maiden name, and Kemp wanted her father, Phil, to see his name represented on a Major League Baseball diamond.

"He's followed my career even from the college days," Kemp explained on Friday morning. "He had three daughters and I'm married to his middle one. I thought it would be pretty cool to have his last name and wear it on a baseball field. He saw the jersey and he said he was overcome with emotion."

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Kemp said his father-in-law will be in attendance at Wrigley Field this weekend, too.

"He said that it meant a lot to him," Kemp said, "and that I'll never know how much it truly meant to him."

Chicago acquired Kemp at the July 31 Trade Deadline from the Astros in exchange for catcher Martin Maldonado. Cubs manager Joe Maddon has given Kemp eight starts and summoned him off the bench nine times, using him as a second baseman, pinch-hitter and occasional outfielder.

Kemp has appreciated how Maddon has worked him into the mix, and has enjoyed how welcome the rest of the players have made him feel since coming into the fold.

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"It's awesome to be a part of it. It's going to be a fun ride this next month and a half," Kemp said. "Honestly, whatever my role may be -- a couple starts here, coming off the bench -- I always like that challenge. You never know, because you could also be on the bench and then you're put in the biggest spot of the game. I kind of like that."

Zobrist coming soon?

The Cubs are roughly a week away from potentially reinstating veteran utility man Ben Zobrist from MLB's restricted list.

Zobrist has moved his current Minor League assignment to Triple-A Iowa for two more games this weekend, following a one-game stay with Double-A Tennessee on Thursday. In that game, Zobrist went 1-for-2 with a double and three walks, marking his 10th Minor League game in his comeback attempt for the Cubs.

"It sounds good," Maddon said of Zobrist's play over the past few weeks. "If and when he comes back, we'll figure that out easily. Like I said, whatever you see him doing right now, I know he's going to do right here. There's not going to be any difference in that game whatsoever.

"He can do it in South Bend or Tennessee or Iowa, it's all going to look the same, or Chicago. He's of that ability. So, that's going to be a wonderful addition when that occurs. But, I don't know exactly when."

Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations, has noted that Zobrist would need to be added to the active roster before the end of Aug. 31 in order to be eligible for the postseason. Zobrist has been on the restricted list since May 8 in order to tend to a family situation.

Willson watch

All-Star catcher Willson Contreras, who has been on the 10-day injured list since Aug. 4 due to a right hamstring strain, has played catch and worked through running and agility drills for the past few days.

The Cubs are planning on having Contreras travel with the team on its upcoming trip to face the Mets in New York, where he might add more baseball activities to his program. There remains no firm timetable for Contreras' return to games or a target date for his activation.

"He came and saw me yesterday before the game," Maddon said Friday. "He just has a good look. He feels good. He's one of those guys you've got to be careful with, because he's going to try to go too much, too soon, but everybody's optimistic right now."