Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez to have back surgery, will miss time in the booth
Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Keith Hernandez revealed on the air on Friday night that he is having back surgery on Tuesday.
Hernandez, 72, recently missed five scheduled Mets games because of back woes.
Hernandez said during the WPIX broadcast of the Mets-A's game that he plans to be back in the booth by April 24, but acknowledged that his boothmates Gary Cohen and Ron Darling are skeptical of that timeline.
Hernandez signed a three-year contract before the season that reduced his games from 110 to 95.
“Can’t happen soon enough,” Hernandez said on the air.
Hernandez has had back surgery before. In 2019, he underwent surgery because of a ruptured disc.
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
