Justin Verlander Discusses His Retirement and New Role in Baseball
The veteran pitcher reflects on his 21-year MLB career and his transition to broadcasting.
Justin Verlander has officially retired from Major League Baseball after a storied 21-season career. Since stepping away from playing, Verlander has joined the "MLB on FOX Pregame" studio show, marking his television debut.
Verlander shared that his decision to retire was prompted by a leg injury that began bothering him during his first start of the season. "I’ve said my entire career, man, I love this game. I love giving it everything I got. I’m going to play until the wheels fall off. The arm held out great, but the leg gave out on me," he explained.
His final game featured an emotional moment where he was greeted on the field by his daughter after pitching 5 ⅓ innings. Verlander described the encounter as "pretty special" and "unforgettable."
Over his 21 seasons, Verlander amassed a Hall of Fame-caliber resume, including two World Series titles, three Cy Young Awards, and an American League MVP award. He expressed particular pride in his durability and consistent performance throughout his career, noting his high number of innings pitched and starts.
"I’m most proud of the volume," Verlander said. "I really pride myself on taking the ball and just being out there for as many pitches as the game would allow. When I look back, I always said that if I’m out there for every start the numbers fall where they may, but [at least] I’m doing my job."
Verlander is one of only 19 pitchers in MLB history to play for 21 or more seasons. Fans can now look forward to hearing his insights as an analyst.