Justin Verlander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Justin Verlander
Verlander with the Houston Astros in 2019
San Francisco Giants – No. 35
Pitcher
Born: (1983-02-20) February 20, 1983 (age 42) Manakin Sabot, Virginia, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
July 4, 2005, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics (through 2024 season)
Win–loss record	262–147
Earned run average	3.30
Strikeouts	3,416
Teams
Detroit Tigers (2005–2017) Houston Astros (2017–2020, 2022) New York Mets (2023) Houston Astros (2023–2024)
Career highlights and awards
9× All-Star (2007, 2009–2013, 2018, 2019, 2022) 2× World Series champion (2017, 2022) AL MVP (2011) 3× AL Cy Young Award (2011, 2019, 2022) Triple Crown (2011) 2× All-MLB First Team (2019, 2022) AL Rookie of the Year (2006) ALCS MVP (2017) AL Comeback Player of the Year (2022) 4× AL wins leader (2009, 2011, 2019, 2022) 2× AL ERA leader (2011, 2022) 5× AL strikeout leader (2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018) Pitched three no-hitters (2007, 2011, 2019)
Medals Men's baseball Representing USA Pan American Games Silver 2003 Santo Domingo Team competition

Justin Brooks Verlander (born February 20, 1983) is an American professional baseball pitcher who plays for the San Francisco Giants in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Justin Verlander is known as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He has won the Cy Young Award three times and was named the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Verlander was born in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. He played college baseball for the Old Dominion Monarchs. He set new records for strikeouts at his university. In 2003, he helped the U.S. national team win a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. The Tigers picked Verlander second overall in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He started playing in the major leagues with the Tigers in 2005. He was a top pitcher for them for 12 years. He helped them win four division titles and two AL pennants.

The Tigers traded Verlander to the Astros in 2017. He played great for the Astros, winning the AL Championship Series MVP and the Babe Ruth Award. The Astros won the 2017 World Series that year. In 2018, Verlander earned his 200th career win. In 2019, he threw his third career no-hitter and reached 3,000 strikeouts.

Verlander has been an MLB All-Star nine times. He has led the AL in strikeouts five times, in earned run average twice, and in wins three times. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2006. In 2007, he pitched his first no-hitter. His best season was 2011, when he won the Pitching Triple Crown. He also won the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP Award. In 2019, he won his second Cy Young Award. He led the Astros to another AL pennant.

After missing time due to Tommy John surgery, Verlander returned in 2022. He won 18 games and helped the Astros win their second World Series. He also won his third Cy Young Award. Verlander is one of only a few pitchers in MLB history to win multiple World Series, multiple Cy Young Awards, throw multiple no-hitters, and be an All-Star many times. He is also one of only two pitchers to win a World Series, an MVP, a Rookie of the Year, and a Cy Young Award.

Early Life and College

Early Life

Justin Verlander played little league baseball in Richmond, Virginia. His father, Richard, sent him to The Richmond Baseball Academy when he was young. There, he quickly learned to throw a fastball at 84 miles per hour.

College Baseball Achievements

Verlander played for the Old Dominion University baseball team for three years. He was a tall, right-handed pitcher. In 2002, he set a school record by striking out 17 batters in one game. The next year, he set a new school record with 139 strikeouts in a single season. In 2004, he broke his own record with 151 strikeouts.

Verlander finished his college career as the all-time strikeout leader for Old Dominion University. He had 427 strikeouts in total. He averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His college earned run average (ERA) was 2.57.

In 2003, Verlander played for the USA national baseball team. He helped the U.S. team win a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. He was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2002. He also earned All-CAA honors in 2003 and 2004.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Detroit Tigers picked Justin Verlander second overall in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He signed his contract in October 2004. Verlander started his professional career in 2005. He played for two of Detroit's minor league teams: the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Erie SeaWolves. He also played two games for the Tigers in July.

Detroit Tigers (2005–2017)

First Seasons and Rookie of the Year (2005–2006)

Verlander (center) in the Florida Instructional League in September 2005

Verlander made his MLB debut on July 4, 2005. He didn't win either of his two starts that year.

In 2006, his first full season, Verlander won 17 games and had a 3.63 ERA. He struck out 124 batters. On July 4, 2006, he and two other Tigers pitchers each threw multiple fastballs over 100 miles per hour. This was a first in MLB history. Verlander became the first rookie pitcher to win 10 games before the end of June. He was named AL Rookie of the Year. He started Game 1 of the 2006 World Series for the Tigers. The Tigers lost the series to the St. Louis Cardinals.

First No-Hitter and All-Star Selection (2007–2008)

Verlander and his teammates celebrate after the final out of his first no-hitter.

Verlander continued his success in 2007, winning 18 games. He had a 3.66 ERA and 183 strikeouts. On June 12, Verlander pitched his first no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers. He struck out twelve batters and threw a fastball up to 102 miles per hour.

Verlander pitching in 2008

In 2008, Verlander struggled and led MLB with 17 losses. He finished the season with an 11–17 record and a 4.84 ERA.

Leading the League in Wins and Strikeouts (2009–2010)

Verlander finished the 2009 season with 19 wins and a 3.45 ERA. He led MLB with 269 strikeouts. This was the most by a Tigers pitcher since 1971. His 19 wins also led all major league pitchers. He finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

In 2010, Verlander signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension. He earned his 10th win of the season by July 3. He finished the 2010 season with an 18–9 record and a 3.37 ERA. He struck out 219 batters.

Amazing 2011 Season: Second No-Hitter and Major Awards

On April 22, 2011, Verlander recorded his 1,000th career strikeout. On May 7, he pitched his second career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. He almost had a perfect game, allowing only one walk. He became the second Tigers pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters.

Verlander in 2011

Verlander had an incredible 2011 season. He won the Pitching Triple Crown in the AL. This means he led the league in wins (24), strikeouts (250), and ERA (2.40). He also led the AL in innings pitched (251). He never pitched fewer than six innings or 100 pitches in any game that season.

Verlander won both the 2011 AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP Award. He was the first pitcher to win the AL MVP since 1992. He became only the second pitcher in baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP awards in his career.

All-Star and World Series Appearance (2012)

On May 18, 2012, Verlander pitched a one-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He struck out 12 batters. Verlander was named the AL starting pitcher for the All-Star Game.

He finished the 2012 season with a 17–8 record. He led the AL in innings pitched (239.1), strikeouts (239), and complete games (six). In the ALDS, he pitched a complete-game shutout in the deciding Game 5. He struck out 11 batters in each of his ALDS starts. Verlander pitched in the 2012 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. The Tigers were swept by the Giants.

Verlander finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting to David Price.

Contract and Postseason Success (2013)

Before the 2013 season, Verlander signed a seven-year, $180 million contract. This made him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history at the time.

Verlander in May 2013

Verlander made his sixth straight Opening Day start for the Tigers. He was selected for his sixth All-Star team. He finished the 2013 season with a 13–12 record, a 3.46 ERA, and 217 strikeouts.

In the ALDS, Verlander pitched eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts in Game 5. This win sent the Tigers to the ALCS. Verlander set a major league record with 30 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason against the Athletics. He had six career postseason games with ten or more strikeouts, a record at the time.

Injuries and Comeback (2014–2015)

On January 9, 2014, Verlander had core muscle surgery. He struggled in the first half of 2014. His strikeouts were down, and his ERA was higher. He was not named to the AL All-Star team for the first time since 2008. He finished 2014 with a 15–12 record.

Verlander before Game 1 of the 2014 AL Division Series

Verlander started the 2015 season on the disabled list with a triceps strain. This was his first time on the DL in his career. He made his season debut on June 13. On August 26, Verlander almost pitched his third career no-hitter. He finished 2015 with a 5–8 record, but his ERA improved to 3.38.

Leading the AL in Strikeouts (2016)

Verlander at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 2016

On May 18, Verlander recorded his 2,000th career strikeout. He became only the second Tigers pitcher to reach this milestone. Verlander was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July.

He finished the 2016 season with a 16–9 record. He led the American League with 254 strikeouts for the fourth time. His 3.04 ERA ranked second in the AL. Verlander finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

Final Games as a Tiger (2017)

On April 4, 2017, Verlander tied a franchise record with ten strikeouts on Opening Day. On August 30, he recorded his first career RBI. This was his last game as a Tiger.

Houston Astros (2017–2022)

World Series Champion and ALCS MVP (2017)

Just before the trade deadline on August 31, the Tigers traded Verlander to the Houston Astros. Verlander won all five of his regular season starts with Houston. He had a 1.06 ERA in those games.

Verlander won two games in the Astros' playoff series against the Boston Red Sox. He started and won Game 1. He also pitched in relief to win Game 4. In the ALCS against the New York Yankees, Verlander pitched a 13-strikeout complete game victory in Game 2. He also pitched seven shutout innings in Game 6 to help the Astros win. He was named the ALCS MVP.

Verlander pitched in the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros won the series, giving Verlander his first World Series championship. He was also named co-winner of the Babe Ruth Award for his postseason performance.

200 Wins and 2,500 Strikeouts (2018)

Verlander in April 2018

Verlander started strong in 2018. In April, he went 4–0 with a 1.36 ERA. On May 16, Verlander pitched a complete-game shutout. He struck out Shohei Ohtani for his 2,500th career strikeout. He was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May.

On July 8, Verlander was named to his seventh All-Star Game. On August 19, Verlander earned his 200th career win. He became the 114th pitcher in MLB history to reach this milestone.

Verlander with the Astros in 2018

Verlander finished the 2018 season with a 16–9 record and a 2.52 ERA. He had a career-high 290 strikeouts. He led the AL in strikeouts for the fifth time. He also led the major leagues with a 0.902 WHIP. Verlander finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

Third No-Hitter and 3,000 Strikeouts (2019)

Verlander with the Astros in 2019

On March 24, 2019, Verlander signed a two-year contract extension with the Astros. On June 1, he passed Cy Young on the all-time MLB strikeouts list. On June 12, Verlander struck out a career-high fifteen batters.

Verlander was named to his eighth American League All-Star team. He was chosen as the starting pitcher for the All-Star game.

On September 1, Verlander threw his third career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed only one walk and struck out 14 batters. He became the sixth pitcher ever to throw three or more no-hitters.

On September 28, Verlander recorded his 3,000th career strikeout. He also got his 300th strikeout of the season in the same game. He and teammate Gerrit Cole were the first pair of starting pitchers to strike out 300+ hitters in the same season since 2002.

Verlander finished the 2019 season with a 21–6 record, 300 strikeouts, and a 2.58 ERA. He led MLB in innings pitched, wins, and WHIP. He won his second Cy Young Award on November 12, 2019.

Injury and Recovery (2020–2021)

In March 2020, Verlander had groin surgery. The season was then delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made his 12th career Opening Day start on July 24, 2020. However, he later suffered a forearm strain. On September 19, Verlander announced he would have Tommy John surgery. This surgery kept him out for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021.

Comeback and Second World Series (2022)

Verlander returned to pitching on April 9, 2022, after his surgery. On April 16, he pitched eight scoreless innings. On May 10, he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. On June 7, Verlander became the active career strikeout leader. He passed Max Scherzer and John Smoltz on the all-time list.

Verlander earned his ninth All-Star selection. He finished the 2022 season with an 18–4 record and a 1.75 ERA. He led all of MLB in ERA and WHIP. He also led the AL in wins. His ERA was the lowest for a pitcher over 39 years old with at least 25 starts.

In the ALCS, Verlander struck out eleven batters in Game 1. In Game 5 of the 2022 World Series, Verlander earned his first career World Series win. He had been 0–6 in his previous World Series starts. The Astros went on to defeat the Phillies in six games, giving Verlander his second World Series ring.

On November 16, Verlander won his third Cy Young Award. He was a unanimous choice, meaning he received every possible first-place vote.

New York Mets (2023)

Verlander with the Mets in 2023

On December 7, 2022, Verlander signed a two-year contract with the New York Mets. The contract had a very high average annual value. On March 30, the Mets placed Verlander on the injured list with a muscle strain.

He made his 2023 debut on May 4 against his former team, the Detroit Tigers. On May 10, Verlander became the 21st Major League pitcher to defeat all 30 teams. On July 30, Verlander earned his 250th major league win. He became only the second pitcher to debut in the 21st century and reach 250 wins.

Return to Houston Astros (2023–2024)

2023 Season

On August 1, 2023, the Mets traded Verlander back to the Houston Astros. His first start back at Minute Maid Park was his 500th career start. He became the 50th pitcher in history to reach this total. On August 27, Verlander earned his 100th career win at Comerica Park.

On September 25, Verlander pitched eight innings, allowing only one run. This helped the Astros win 5–1. On September 30, Verlander pitched five shutout innings. This helped the Astros clinch a playoff spot for the seventh year in a row. He tied Phil Niekro for 12th on the all-time strikeout list. Verlander won his 10th career AL Player of the Week award for his strong performance.

In Game 1 of the ALDS, Verlander threw six shutout innings. This was his sixth scoreless postseason start, tying a record.

2024 Season

Verlander started the 2024 season on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. He made his season debut on April 19. He passed Phil Niekro for 12th on the all-time strikeout list.

On May 25, Verlander struck out Abraham Toro for his 3,372nd career strikeout. This moved him past Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list. This win was also his 260th career victory, the most for any pitcher who started their career in the 21st century. He was placed on the injured list again on June 19 due to shoulder inflammation.

Justin Verlander made a rehab appearance for the Corpus Christi Hooks at Arvest Ballpark

Verlander returned from the injured list on August 21. He allowed two runs over five innings. After the season, he became a free agent.

San Francisco Giants

On January 11, 2025, Verlander signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.

International Play

As a college student, Verlander played for the United States national baseball team in 2003. He helped the U.S. team win a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.

Verlander was invited to play in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. However, he decided not to play. He wanted to focus on recovering from his surgery and his World Series season.

Pitching Style

Verlander uses four main pitches:

• A fast four-seam fastball that averages 94–95 miles per hour and can reach 102 mph. This pitch has a lot of spin, making it move in a special way. He often throws it high in the strike zone to get strikeouts.
• A slider that is in the mid-to-high 80s. His slider has changed over his career, becoming faster and sharper.
• A 12–6 curveball that is around 80 mph. This pitch drops sharply and can make hitters miss or freeze.
• A changeup at 85–88 mph. He uses this pitch mostly against left-handed batters.

Verlander is known for being able to change the speed of his fastball during a game. He can still throw it very fast, even in the late innings. Since 2008, he has thrown pitches over 100 mph in the 8th inning or later 44 times.

Many people see Verlander as one of the last "old-school" power pitchers. He throws a lot of innings and gets many strikeouts. He has led the league in innings pitched four times. He has also led the American League in strikeouts five times. He has over 3,100 career strikeouts, ranking 12th all-time through the 2022 season.

Charity Work

In 2016, Verlander started the "Wins For Warriors Foundation." This foundation helps veterans of the United States Military. In 2017, the foundation raised over $246,000 to help Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey. Verlander has personally donated over $1 million to this cause. He has also supported charities in Detroit and national efforts like the American Red Cross.

For his work with military veterans, Verlander received the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award in 2013.

Personal Life

Verlander with wife Kate Upton in 2019

Justin Verlander grew up in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. His parents are Richard and Kathy Verlander. He has a younger brother named Ben Verlander. Ben also played baseball for the Tigers organization.

Justin Verlander married model and actress Kate Upton on November 4, 2017. This was two days after he won the World Series with the Astros. They were married in a beautiful church in Tuscany, Italy. In 2018, they announced they were expecting their first child. Their daughter was born later that year.

Awards and Achievements

See Also

In Spanish: Justin Verlander para niños

• Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders
• Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career WHIP leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
• List of Old Dominion University alumni
• Major League Baseball titles leaders
• Major League Baseball Triple Crown