22-year Major League veteran Justin Verlander has announced his decision to call it quits after this season. With Justin Verlander retiring, he will go down as one of the best pitchers in both Detroit Tigers’ history, and one of the best pitchers of his generation. Although the 43-year-old has only made one appearance this season due to chronic injury, he has been selected to this season’s All Star game and will surely be honored there. The remainder of the season will likely be a farewell tour with plenty of ceremony and memories, with little chance of him pitching effectively again.
Justin Verlander Retiring After 2026 Season
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) July 8, 2026
It is fitting that Justin Verlander will get to retire as a Detroit Tiger. The Virginia native debuted with the team on July 4, 2005 against the then-Cleveland Indians, a team he would go on to face another 48 times in the regular season, more than any other franchise. Verlander followed up his debut season by capturing the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2006. He went on to spend 13 season in Motown during his initial stop, serving as the face of the franchise that rose from the obscurity of the late 90s and early 2000s into a World Series contender during the early 2010s. As the ace, the Tigers played in three consecutive American League Championship series between 2011-13, including winning the League in 2012.\
Career Accomplishments
Verlander’s best year in Detroit was 2011, when he was named unanimous American League Cy Young, and also won the AL Most Valuable Player award. Verlander then went on to win the Cy Young twice more, in 2019 and 2022 with the Houston Astros. His proudest moments as a baseball player may have also come in Houston, as he was part of two World Series winning squads in 2017 and 2022. He also has thrown three no-hitters in his career.
He also pitched for both the New York Mets in 2023 (reuniting with the Astros via trade that same season) and the San Francisco Giants in 2025 before his swan song with the Tigers this season.
Farewell to a Legend
Assuming that he makes no more appearances, Verlander will finish with 266 wins, 3,554 strikeouts and a career 1.36 WHIP.
Main Photo: Rob Carr- Imagn Images
