Yankees' Aaron Judge reveals wish for injury return

All-Star slugger Aaron Judge offered somewhat of a promising update regarding his eventual return to the New York Yankees. 

"We’re getting close," Judge said Friday while participating in an event related to his All Rise Foundation, as shared by Dan Martin of the New York Post. "I’m not really too sure when. We’re getting better every day. I’ll be back soon." 

Earlier this week, Yankees manager Aaron Boone teased Judge could be back in the lineup as soon as for home games versus the New York Mets this coming Tuesday and Wednesday. Boone later dialed back such optimism, and Judge seemed to put an end to any hope of playing in the upcoming Subway Series. 

"I wish," Judge said about possibly featuring against the Mets. "I wish." 

Boone said on Tuesday that Judge's absence due to his injured big right toe could go on for days or weeks. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player couldn't deny he may still be at least weeks away from facing big-league opposition. 

The last-place Yankees have gone 15-22 during Judge's latest stint on the injured list and entered Friday trailing the first-place Baltimore Orioles by nine-and-a-half games in the AL East standings. New York was four games back of a wild-card berth at that time. 

Judge admitted it's "tough" watching the Yankees struggle from the dugout. 

"You don’t like sitting out any moment," the 31-year-old continued. "If we were winning every single game, it would be tough sitting out. But in a tough spell, it’s even harder." 

While Judge recently began running the bases in the latest step of his recovery, it's assumed he'll need to complete at least a couple of rehab and/or simulated games before he's ready to serve as a designated hitter with the Yankees. 

As for the 50-47 Bronx Bombers, they begin a home series versus the 28-70 Kansas City Royals on Friday night.