Justin Verlander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Justin Verlander
Verlander with the Mets in 2023
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 July 9, 2025)
Win–loss record	262–154
Earned run average	3.33
Strikeouts	3,483
Teams
Detroit Tigers (2005–2017) Houston Astros (2017–2020, 2022) New York Mets (2023) Houston Astros (2023–2024) San Francisco Giants (2025–present)
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 is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on February 20, 1983. Justin 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 played college baseball at Old Dominion University (ODU). He set new records for strikeouts there. In 2003, he helped the U.S. national team win a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. The Detroit Tigers picked him second overall in the 2004 MLB draft. He joined the Tigers in 2005 and played for them for 12 years. He was a key player in their four division championships from 2011 to 2014. He also helped them reach the AL pennant twice, in 2006 and 2012.

In 2017, the Tigers traded Verlander to the Houston Astros. He quickly helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series. He was even named the AL Championship Series MVP. In 2019, Verlander became one of only six pitchers in MLB history to throw three career no-hitters. He also became the 18th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts. After missing time due to Tommy John surgery in 2020 and 2021, he returned in 2022. That year, he led the Astros to another World Series championship and won his third Cy Young Award.

Justin Verlander is a nine-time MLB All-Star. 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. He pitched his first no-hitter in 2007. His best season was 2011, when he won the Pitching Triple Crown, the AL Cy Young Award, and the AL MVP Award. He is one of only two pitchers to win a World Series, an MVP, a Rookie of the Year, and a Cy Young Award. He currently leads all active pitchers in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched.

Early Baseball Days

Justin Verlander started playing baseball in Little League in Richmond, Virginia. His father sent him to The Richmond Baseball Academy when he was young. There, he quickly learned to throw a fast pitch. By his senior year of high school, he could throw a fastball around 86 miles per hour.

College Baseball Career

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. In 2003, he set a new school record with 139 strikeouts in a single season. He broke his own record in 2004 with 151 strikeouts.

He finished his college career as the all-time strikeout leader for Old Dominion, with 427 strikeouts. He averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His earned run average (ERA) in college was 2.57. He was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2002. He also earned All-CAA honors in 2003 and 2004.

Professional Baseball Journey

Starting in the Minors

Justin Verlander began his professional career after being picked by the Detroit Tigers in the 2004 MLB Draft. He signed his first contract in October 2004. In 2005, he played for two of Detroit's minor league teams. He also made two starts for the Tigers in July.

Time with the Detroit Tigers (2005–2017)

First Years and Rookie Award (2005–2006)

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

Verlander made his first MLB appearance on July 4, 2005. He joined the Tigers' main roster in 2006. In his first full season, he 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 fastballs over 100 miles per hour in one game. This was a first in MLB history.

He became the first rookie pitcher ever to win 10 games before the end of June. At the end of the season, he was named the AL Rookie of the Year. He started Game 1 of the 2006 World Series for the Tigers. The Tigers lost the series in five games.

First No-Hitter and All-Star Game (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. On June 12, he threw 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 had a tougher season, finishing with 11 wins and 17 losses.

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

In 2009, Verlander finished with 19 wins and led MLB with 269 strikeouts. This was the most strikeouts by a Tiger pitcher since 1971. His 19 wins also led all of Major League Baseball that season. He finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

In 2010, Verlander continued to pitch well. He won 18 games and struck out 219 batters. He was the first pitcher since Dwight Gooden to win 17 games in four of his first five seasons.

Award-Winning Season and Second No-Hitter (2011)

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

Verlander in 2011

By the end of 2011, Verlander had an amazing season. He won the Pitching Triple Crown in the AL, leading 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 an AL MVP Award 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.

Cy Young Runner-Up and World Series (2012)

On May 18, 2012, Verlander pitched a one-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He struck out 12 batters and threw pitches up to 100 miles per hour. He was named the AL starting pitcher for the All-Star Game.

Verlander finished the 2012 season with 17 wins. He led the American League in innings pitched, strikeouts, and complete games. In the ALDS, he pitched a complete-game shutout in the deciding Game 5. He struck out 11 batters in both of his ALDS starts, setting a record. He helped the Tigers reach the 2012 World Series, where they were swept by the San Francisco Giants.

Verlander finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

Another Strong Postseason (2013)

Verlander in June 2013

Before the 2013 season, Verlander signed a large contract with the Tigers. He made his sixth straight Opening Day start for the Tigers. On May 11, he recorded his 1,500th career strikeout. He was selected for his sixth All-Star team.

Verlander finished the 2013 season with 13 wins and 217 strikeouts. In the ALDS, he pitched eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts in Game 5. This win sent the Tigers to the ALCS. He set a major league record with 30 consecutive scoreless innings against the Athletics in the postseason.

In the 2013 postseason, Verlander had a 0.39 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 innings.

Injury and Recovery (2014–2015)

Verlander before Game 1 of the 2014 AL Division Series

In early 2014, Verlander had core muscle surgery. He struggled in the first half of the 2014 season. He missed a start for the first time in his career due to shoulder soreness. He finished 2014 with 15 wins.

Verlander started the 2015 season on the disabled list with a triceps strain. This was his first time on the DL in his MLB career. He made his season debut on June 13. On August 26, he almost threw his third career no-hitter, allowing only one hit in the ninth inning. He finished 2015 with 5 wins in 20 starts, but his other stats improved.

Strikeout Leader and 2,000 Career Strikeouts (2016)

Verlander at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 2016

On May 8, 2016, Verlander passed Jack Morris for second place on the Tigers' all-time strikeout list. On May 18, he reached his 2,000th career strikeout. He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July.

Verlander finished the 2016 season with 16 wins and led the AL with 254 strikeouts. He also led the AL with a 1.00 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). He finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

Final Games as a Tiger (2017)

On April 4, 2017, Verlander tied a Tigers record with ten strikeouts on Opening Day. In his last game as a Tiger on August 30, he recorded his first career run batted in (RBI).

Joining the Houston Astros (2017–2022)

World Series Champion and ALCS MVP (2017)

Seconds before the trade deadline on August 31, 2017, the Tigers traded Verlander to the Houston Astros. He won all five of his regular season starts with Houston, with a low 1.06 ERA.

Verlander won two games in the Astros' playoff series against the Boston Red Sox. On October 14, he pitched a complete-game victory against the Yankees in the ALCS, striking out 13 batters. He pitched seven shutout innings in Game 6 of the ALCS, helping the Astros reach the World Series. He was named the ALCS MVP.

Verlander helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was his first World Series championship. He was also named a co-winner of the Babe Ruth Award for his postseason performance.

200 Wins and 2,500 Strikeouts (2018)

Verlander in April 2018

In 2018, Verlander started the season very strong. In April, he had 4 wins and a 1.36 ERA. On May 1, he struck out 14 Yankees batters, tying his career high. On May 16, he threw a complete-game shutout and recorded his 2,500th career strikeout. He was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May.

Verlander with the Astros in 2018

On August 19, Verlander earned his 200th career win. He became the 114th pitcher in MLB history to reach this milestone. He finished the 2018 season with 16 wins and a career-high 290 strikeouts. He led the major leagues with a 0.902 WHIP. He finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

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

Verlander with the Astros in 2019

On March 24, 2019, Verlander signed a new contract with the Astros. He made his 11th career Opening Day start. On June 1, he passed Cy Young on the all-time MLB strikeouts list. He continued to climb the all-time strikeout list throughout the season. On June 12, he struck out a career-high 15 batters.

Verlander was named to his eighth All-Star team and was chosen as the starting pitcher for the All-Star game. On August 4, he reached 200 strikeouts for the season for the ninth time in his career.

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. This made him one of only six pitchers ever to throw three or more no-hitters.

On September 28, in his final start of 2019, Verlander recorded his 3,000th career strikeout. He also reached 300 strikeouts for the season, a new career high. He and teammate Gerrit Cole became the first pair of starting pitchers to strike out 300+ hitters in the same season since 2002.

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

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 had to undergo Tommy John surgery on his elbow. This surgery kept him out for the rest of the 2020 season and all of the 2021 season.

Comeback and Second World Series (2022)

Verlander with the Astros in 2019

After his surgery, Verlander returned to pitch on April 9, 2022. On April 16, he pitched eight scoreless innings. He also pitched his 3,000th career inning, a rare achievement. On June 7, he became the active career strikeout leader, passing Max Scherzer.

Verlander earned his ninth All-Star selection in 2022. He continued to pitch very well, often taking no-hitters deep into games. He finished the 2022 season with 18 wins and a low 1.75 ERA. He led all of Major League Baseball in ERA and WHIP. His ERA was the lowest for a pitcher over 39 years old with at least 25 starts.

In the playoffs, Verlander set a major league record with his eighth double-digit strikeout game in the postseason. In Game 5 of the 2022 World Series, he earned his first career World Series win after eight previous starts without one. 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 by a unanimous vote. This made him the 11th pitcher in MLB history to win three Cy Young Awards.

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. This contract matched the record for the highest average annual value in MLB history. He started the 2023 season on the injured list with a muscle strain.

Verlander made his 2023 debut on May 4 against his former team, the Detroit Tigers. On May 10, he became the 21st pitcher in MLB history to defeat all 30 teams. On July 30, he earned his 250th career win. He finished his time with the Mets with 6 wins and a 3.15 ERA in 16 games.

Return to the Houston Astros (2023–2024)

Back with the Astros (2023)

On August 1, 2023, the Mets traded Verlander back to the Houston Astros. His first start back with the Astros on August 11 was the 500th start of his career. On August 27, he earned his 100th career win at Comerica Park, becoming the 36th pitcher to win that many games in one stadium.

On September 25, Verlander pitched eight strong innings, helping the Astros win. On September 30, he pitched five shutout innings to help the Astros clinch a playoff spot for the seventh year in a row. He also tied Phil Niekro for 12th on the all-time strikeout list. For his great pitching, he won his 10th career AL Player of the Week award.

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

Recent Seasons (2024)

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

On May 25, 2024, Verlander passed Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list. This win was also his 260th career victory, the most of any pitcher who started their career in the 21st century. However, he was placed on the injured list again on June 19 due to shoulder inflammation.

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

He returned from the injured list on August 21. He finished the 2024 season with 5 wins in 17 starts. After the season, Verlander became a free agent.

San Francisco Giants (2025–Present)

On January 11, 2025, Verlander signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. He made his Giants debut on March 29. He pitched five innings, giving up two runs, but got a no-decision. He made his home debut for the Giants on April 4. He was placed on the injured list on May 21 due to a right pectoral injury.

International Play

As a college student in 2003, Verlander played for the United States national baseball team. He helped the U.S. team win a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo. He was invited to play in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, but he chose not to because he was recovering from surgery and had just played in the World Series.

How Justin Pitches

Verlander uses four main pitches:

• A fast four-seam fastball that averages 94–95 miles per hour and can reach 102 mph. It has a lot of spin, making it move in a tricky way. He often throws it high in the strike zone to get strikeouts.
• A slider that moves in the mid-to-high 80s. His slider has changed over his career, becoming faster and sharper.
• A 12–6 curveball 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, but less often now.

Verlander is known for being able to change the speed of his fastball during a game. He can still throw it in the upper 90s even late in games. He has thrown pitches over 100 mph in the 8th inning or later 44 times, which is much more than most other pitchers.

He is considered one of the last "old-school" power pitchers. He often leads the league in innings pitched and strikeouts. He has led the American League in strikeouts five times. He has over 3,400 career strikeouts, ranking him 10th all-time.

Helping Others

In 2016, Verlander started the "Wins For Warriors Foundation." This charity helps veterans of the United States Military. In 2017, the foundation raised over $246,000 to help Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey. Verlander has donated over $1 million to this cause. He has also supported other 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.

Family Life

Verlander with wife Kate Upton in 2019

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

Verlander started dating model-actress Kate Upton in 2014. They got engaged in 2016. They married on November 4, 2017, two days after he won the World Series. They welcomed their daughter in 2018 and their son in 2025.

Awards and Achievements

Images for kids

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  Verlander with the Mets in 2023

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

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

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  Verlander pitching in 2008

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  Verlander in 2011

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  Verlander in June 2013

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  Verlander before Game 1 of the 2014 AL Division Series

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  Verlander at Camden Yards in Baltimore in 2016

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  Verlander in April 2018

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  Verlander with the Astros in 2018

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  Verlander with the Astros in 2019

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  Verlander with the Astros in 2019

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  Verlander with the Mets in 2023

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

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  Verlander with wife Kate Upton in 2019

See also

In Spanish: Justin Verlander para niños