Joey Votto has made no secret of the fact that he’s longing to return to a Major League baseball field. Just take a scroll through his recent social media posts and you’ll come across a wistful photo -- and reference to a popular meme -- of him sitting on a bench next to a baseball bat. “Missing ball,” the heartbreaking caption reads.

The 2010 NL MVP Award winner got the chance to expound on that sentiment when he joined ESPN’s broadcast of Thursday afternoon’s Braves-Red Sox game via Zoom. Votto said he’s been occupying his time by training on a daily basis and watching a lot of baseball.

“I’m just sitting here jealous,” he said.

A 17-year MLB veteran who has only known one team, Votto became a free agent when the Reds declined his club option in November. But he’s far from ready to hang up the spikes.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to get back on a Major League field,” he said. “I just miss it. It’s the best game.”

Votto didn’t stop there, going on to explain in the most perfect terms exactly why baseball is, well, the best.

“As the weather turns and the days get longer and people get excited to be outside. You know, we have a game that is outside, it’s a party, it’s sunny, green grass,” Votto said. “It’s like a big barbecue, and I just miss it. I miss it so much.”

As for whether he and his agent have been hearing any interest from teams, Votto said “we’re making progress.”

“I’ll be back,” he said. “Not too long.”