Keith Hernandez is back where he belongs—in the SNY broadcast booth—and he brought a little flair, a little humor, and a whole lot of Mets magic with him.

The 72-year-old Mets legend returned to the mic Monday for the first time since early April, when he stepped away for back surgery that was originally expected to keep him sidelined until April 24. Instead, Hernandez extended his recovery, making his grand re-entrance during the Mets' series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

And what an entrance it was. Hernandez was spotted walking with a cane as he made his way to the booth. When he realized the cameras were on him, he flashed that signature grin, held the cane like a bat, and declared, "I'm back, and I can still swing it."

The booth was decked out with festive balloons and a warm welcome from his longtime partner Gary Cohen, who clearly missed having his friend by his side. Hernandez, ever the showman, quoted Simon & Garfunkel to mark the moment: "Gee, it's great to be back home. Home is where I want to be, right with you in the booth, Gare."

He also gave fans a peek behind the curtain of his recovery, sharing that the procedure took about four hours. "They cleaned it out," he said. "I'll say one thing: When you're on anesthesia, the time flies."

Of course, not everything went perfectly. His monitor went down during the lineup introductions, leaving him scrambling to figure out who was playing where for the Rockies. But true to form, Hernandez powered through with the help of Cohen, who couldn't resist a few playful jabs.

The duo also took a moment to honor the late John Sterling, the legendary Yankees announcer who passed away Monday, adding a poignant note to an otherwise lighthearted return.

And in true Keith Hernandez fashion, even the balloons seemed to have a mind of their own. One "You Are Special" balloon kept bopping him in the head throughout the broadcast, sending Cohen into a fit of laughter as Hernandez tried to stay on track. "Gare is getting a big kick out of Keith's 'you are special' balloon," the broadcast quipped.

Welcome back, Keith. The booth wasn't the same without you—or that unforgettable sense of humor.