inside the mets Keith Hernandez talks ‘grief’ from his bad back — and what he’s noticed about spiraling Mets while out of action By Mike Puma Published April 24, 2026, 6:40 a.m. ET Keith Hernandez is expected back in the broadcast booth in less than two weeks after undergoing back surgery. Getty Images Keith Hernandez’s injured list stint is set to expire in less than two weeks, at which time his insight and wit are scheduled for a return to the SNY booth for the Mets’ series in Colorado.
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The former Mets first baseman underwent back surgery on April 14 — a four-hour procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery that included repair or a bulging disc.
“It was causing me all my grief, my pain, which was on the right side of my body,” Hernandez told Sports+ on Thursday. “Literally, my right quadricep was like a light switch turned off, I had no strength. The nerve had just shut down the quad. I couldn’t walk up a step with the right quad. I had to lead with my left foot and then come up with my right. I actually fell down twice, so I could’ve really hurt myself.”
There’s seldom been a better time for heavy medication while watching the Mets.
