New York Mets fans are in for a change in their local broadcast team lineup, and it’s all about Keith Hernandez. The beloved voice of the Mets is taking a brief hiatus, set to miss the next five games due to a back injury, as reported by Newsday.
Stepping into his shoes is Todd Zeile, who will join play-by-play maestro Gary Cohen. Together, they’ll guide fans through the Mets' series in St. Louis and their upcoming games in San Francisco.
Hernandez, a staple of the SNY broadcast since its inception in 2006, has been a fixture in the booth for 21 seasons, typically alongside Cohen and Ron Darling. His absence will be felt, but fans can look forward to his return, hopefully as soon as next week.
Before dazzling fans with his commentary, Hernandez enjoyed a stellar 17-season MLB career with the Cardinals, Mets, and Indians. A career .296 hitter with 2,182 hits, he shared the 1979 NL MVP honors with Willie Stargell and was a five-time All-Star, hitting .344 that standout season.
Not only did Hernandez win two World Series rings-one with the Cardinals and one with the Mets-but he also set a gold standard at first base with 11 Gold Glove awards. His legacy with the Mets is immortalized with his No. 17 retired by the team.
While fans will miss his insights over the next few games, they can take comfort in knowing Hernandez will be back soon to share more of his baseball wisdom.