Justin Verlander Honored by Family in Emotional Farewell Start for Detroit Tigers
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was celebrated on the field with his wife, Kate Upton, and children before his final career start.
Justin Verlander received a heartfelt sendoff Friday night at Comerica Park, surrounded by his family, before making his final career start for the Detroit Tigers against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. The 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion experienced an emotional moment when his 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which landed as a strike. Verlander embraced his daughter, sharing a smile.
His wife, Kate Upton, 34, and their 1-year-old son, Bellamy, were also present for the celebration. Verlander spoke about Genevieve's excitement for the event, noting that she had recently begun wanting to play catch with him, a new development he cherished.
"She's been really excited. At home, she wants to grab a baseball and go up to play catch with me, which is the first time this has happened. I don’t push on her at all, so to have her want to go play catch in the backyard has been awesome, and she’s glowing about it," Verlander told reporters.
This season has been challenging for Verlander in his return to Detroit, where he played from 2005 to 2017. He has pitched only 3 ⅔ innings in one game due to left hip inflammation and a left hamstring strain, and the Tigers will not be advancing to the postseason. Verlander expressed his deep connection to the city and the team during his address to the crowd, stating, “I am, and always will be, a Detroit Tiger.”
Verlander, married to Upton since 2017, acknowledged feeling anxious about his final outing. He indicated he had intentionally accelerated his rehabilitation from injury to be able to pitch one last time. He anticipates a limited pitch count for Saturday's game, stating that he and the team are comfortable with approximately 20 pitches, beyond which the situation would be uncertain.
Heading into his final game, Verlander had accumulated 266 wins and 3,555 strikeouts, ranking him eighth all-time in strikeouts. Reflecting on his career, he expressed contentment with his achievements, noting that while reaching 300 wins was a goal, he felt at peace with his accomplishments regardless of the outcome of his last start.