Justin Verlander

Justin Brooks Verlander Bio

Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants in the 2025 season. Over his extensive career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Verlander established himself as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He is a three-time Cy Young Award winner, an American League MVP, and a two-time World Series champion. Verlander was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the second overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 2005. Throughout his career, he has played for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants, accumulating over 266 career wins and 3,500 career strikeouts.

Early Life and Background

Justin Brooks Verlander was born on February 20, 1983, in Manakin Sabot, Virginia. He played Little League baseball at Tuckahoe Little League in Richmond, Virginia. Verlander’s father, Richard, enrolled him at The Richmond Baseball Academy when he was young, where he developed his throwing ability and was able to throw an 84 mph fastball shortly after joining the academy. His velocity plateaued at 86 mph during his senior year at Goochland High School, where he was also sidetracked by strep throat.

Verlander attended Old Dominion University, where he played for the Monarchs baseball team from 2002 to 2004. He broke the Monarchs’ and Colonial Athletic Association’s career records for strikeouts with 427 in 335 and two-thirds innings. In 2004, he established a new Colonial Athletic Association record with 151 strikeouts. He was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2002 and earned All-CAA honors in 2003 and 2004.

Path to Professional Baseball

During his college career, Verlander averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings and posted a career collegiate ERA of 2.57. On May 17, 2002, he struck out a then-school record 17 batters against James Madison. In 2003, he set a school single-season record with 139 strikeouts, and in 2004, he broke his own record. He was named the ODU Alumni Association’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2004.

As a college sophomore in 2003, Verlander also pitched for the United States national baseball team at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, helping the United States win a silver medal. His impressive college career led to him being selected by the Detroit Tigers with the second overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft.

Justin Brooks Verlander Career

Detroit Tigers Era (2005–2017)

Verlander made his MLB debut on July 4, 2005, with the Detroit Tigers. In his first full major league season in 2006, he went 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA, striking out 124 batters in 186 innings. He became the first rookie pitcher in the history of the game to win 10 games before the end of June and was named American League Rookie of the Year. In Game 1 of the 2006 World Series, Verlander started against the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the first instance in which two rookies faced off to start a World Series.

Verlander’s success continued in 2007 when he accumulated 18 wins, posted a 3.66 ERA with 183 strikeouts in over 201 innings. On June 12 of that year, he recorded a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 12 batters and throwing a fastball that reached 102 mph. In 2009, he led the American League in wins (19) and strikeouts (269), the most by a Tiger since Mickey Lolich’s 308 in 1971. He finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting that year.

Houston Astros First Stint (2017–2020)

The Tigers traded Verlander to the Houston Astros on August 31, 2017, just before the waiver trade deadline. He won his Astros debut on September 5 against the Seattle Mariners, giving up one run and striking out seven over six innings. He started and won the AL West division-clinching game on September 17, allowing one run and striking out 10 Mariners batters over seven innings. He won all five of his regular season starts with Houston, posting a 1.06 ERA and 0.65 WHIP in those games.

In the 2017 postseason, Verlander was outstanding, going 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings during the ALCS. He was named ALCS MVP. In the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he received a no-decision in Game 2, and the Astros won the series in seven games, giving Verlander his first World Series championship. He was also co-winner of the Babe Ruth Award as co-MVPs of the 2017 postseason.

Verlander missed most of the 2020 season due to a right groin injury that required surgery, and he subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2020, which caused him to miss the entire 2021 season as well.

Houston Astros Return (2022–2024)

Verlander returned to the mound on April 9, 2022, against the Los Angeles Angels for his first game since Opening Day 2020. He had an exceptional season, going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 175 innings pitched. He led all Major Leagues in ERA, WHIP (0.829), and batting average against (.186) while leading the American League in wins.

Verlander won his third Cy Young Award in 2022, becoming the 11th pitcher in MLB history to win three Cy Young Awards and the first Astro to win multiple Cy Young Awards. He led the Astros to their second World Series championship that year, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. In Game 5 of the World Series, he earned his first career World Series win after going 0-6 in previous World Series starts.

In 2023, after starting the season with the New York Mets, Verlander was traded back to the Astros on August 1. He made his 500th career start on August 11 and earned his 100th career win at Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers on August 27. He helped the Astros clinch a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season.

New York Mets (2023)

On December 7, 2022, Verlander signed a two-year, $86.7 million contract with the New York Mets. He was placed on the injured list at the start of the 2023 season due to a low-grade teres major strain. He made his Mets debut on May 4, 2023, against his former team, the Detroit Tigers. On May 10, he struck out seven hitters over seven innings in a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the 21st pitcher in MLB history to defeat all 30 teams.

On July 30, Verlander earned his 250th career win in the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Washington Nationals. Across 16 games for the Mets, he posted a 6-5 record with a 3.15 ERA and 81 strikeouts across 94 and one-third innings pitched. On August 1, 2023, the Mets traded him back to the Houston Astros.

San Francisco Giants (2025)

On January 11, 2025, Verlander signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. He made his Giants debut on March 29, pitching five innings and giving up two runs while striking out five against the Cincinnati Reds.

On August 10, 2025, Verlander recorded his 3,500th career strikeout when he struck out Nathaniel Lowe in the first inning, becoming the 10th pitcher in Major League history to reach that milestone and the eighth right-handed pitcher to do so. On August 26, he passed Walter Johnson for ninth on the all-time strikeout list with his 3,516th career strikeout. On September 6, he passed Gaylord Perry for eighth on the all-time strikeout list. In 29 total starts for the Giants, he compiled a 4-11 record with a 3.85 ERA and 137 strikeouts across 152 innings pitched.

Driving Style and Strengths

Verlander throws four pitches: a hard four-seam fastball averaging 94-95 mph (topping out at 102), a slider in the mid-to-high 80s, a 12-6 curveball around 80 mph, and a changeup at 85-88 mph. He is known for his unusual ability to adjust his fastball velocity throughout games, throwing it in the upper 90s even in late innings. Since 2008, Verlander has thrown pitches over 100 mph in the eighth inning or later 44 times. He is considered by many to be the last of the old-school power pitchers and is a higher-than-average fly ball pitcher.

Notable Events and Milestones

Verlander has thrown three career no-hitters (2007, 2011, 2019), becoming the sixth pitcher in MLB history to throw three or more career no-hitters. He is a five-time American League strikeout champion (2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018) and has led the league in innings pitched four times (2009, 2011, 2012, 2019). He has accumulated over 3,500 career strikeouts, ranking eighth all-time through the 2025 season. His 2011 season stands out as he won the Triple Crown of pitching, leading the AL in wins (24), strikeouts (250), and ERA (2.40), while also becoming the first pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1986 to win both the Cy Young Award and MVP in the same season.

Justin Brooks Verlander Career Wins

Throughout his career, Justin Verlander has accumulated over 266 career wins in Major League Baseball. He has been one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation, consistently ranking among the league leaders in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. His career win total ranks him among the most successful pitchers of the modern era.

Major Achievements Highlights

Verlander is a nine-time MLB All-Star and has led the American League in strikeouts five times (2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018), in ERA twice (2011, 2022), and in wins three times (2009, 2011, 2019). His 2011 season was his most decorated, when he won the Triple Crown, the AL Cy Young Award unanimously, and the AL MVP Award. He became the second pitcher in baseball history after Don Newcombe to win the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP awards in his career. His 2022 season saw him go 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA at age 39, winning his third Cy Young Award and leading the Astros to a World Series championship.

Other Wins and Performances

Verlander has been particularly effective in the postseason, with multiple double-digit strikeout performances. He holds the MLB record for 30 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason against the Oakland Athletics. He became the first pitcher in MLB history to record more than 10 strikeouts in a winner-take-all postseason shutout during the 2012 ALDS. His postseason career includes six appearances across multiple World Series and Championship Series.

Justin Brooks Verlander Family

Family Background and Baseball Lineage

Verlander grew up in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, with his parents, Richard and Kathy Verlander, and a younger brother, Ben Verlander. His life experiences and development are outlined in his parents’ 2012 book, “Rocks Across the Pond: Lessons Learned, Stories Told.” His younger brother, Ben, played in the Detroit Tigers organization as an outfielder. Verlander’s father enrolled him at The Richmond Baseball Academy at a young age, which helped develop his pitching abilities.

Personal Life

Verlander began dating model and actress Kate Upton in early 2014, and the couple became engaged in 2016. They married on November 4, 2017, in a medieval church in Tuscany, Italy, two days after Verlander won the World Series with the Houston Astros. On July 14, 2018, they announced Upton was pregnant with their first child, and their daughter was born later that year. On June 19, 2025, they welcomed their second child, a baby boy.

In 2013, Verlander formed the Wins for Warriors Foundation to support veterans of the United States Military. At that time, he donated over $1 million to the organization. For his work with military veterans, he was honored as one of the inaugural recipients of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award in 2013. Verlander stands at 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Verlander’s first year with the San Francisco Giants after signing a one-year, $15 million contract in January. He made his Giants debut on March 29 against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, pitching five innings and allowing two runs while striking out five. He followed with his home opener at Oracle Park on April 4 against the Seattle Mariners.

Despite facing some challenges, including being placed on the injured list due to a right pectoral injury in May, Verlander reached several significant career milestones during the season. On August 10, he recorded his 3,500th career strikeout, becoming the 10th pitcher in MLB history to achieve that feat. He continued climbing the all-time strikeout list, passing Walter Johnson and Gaylord Perry to move into eighth place all-time. His season concluded with a 4-11 record and a 3.85 ERA across 29 starts, demonstrating his durability and ability to compete at the highest level well into his 40s.