MLB Announcer Keith Hernandez Mourns Death of His 22-Year-Old Cat, Hadji: 'RIP My Little Guy'

"I don't think I'll ever get over it," Hernandez shared on X

Sports fans are mourning the loss of a furry friend.

Hadji, the pet cat of New York Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez, has died.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I must tell you that I had to put Hadji down last week," Hernandez, 71, announced in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "It was his time to go. I loved him so much and miss him dearly. He was a great companion for 22 yrs. RIP my little guy.”

"It was his time to go," he added in a reply. "No quality of life. He passed painlessly and with dignity. Tough one. I don't think I'll ever get over it."

On Oct. 10, Hernandez, a retired two-time World Series champion and former first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals and Mets, posted a birthday post for Hadji on his Instagram. "HAPPY 22nd HADJI!!!" he captioned the picture of him holding the cat as the sun beamed down on him.

Related: Keith Hernandez Reveals He Used to Hook Up with Luann de Lesseps: 'I Chased Her Like a Hound'

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Hadji's birthday celebration included several new toys, cat treats and candles, which was nothing new for the Bengal. According to a 2021 GQ profile on Hadji, some of his favorite things were a cat stroller, several cat trees, cat toys and an impressive backyard fort.

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY HADJI!! pic.twitter.com/ZqxVc51JnX— keith Hernandez (@keithhernandez) October 10, 2024

The 22-year-old cat had become an unofficial mascot for the Mets, even being featured on fan signs and T-shirts.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

"Rest in peace, Hadji