Verlander closes Hall of Fame career with final Tigers start, daughter removes him from game

Justin Verlander's 21-year Major League Baseball career ended Saturday, September 26, at Comerica Park, where it began two decades earlier. The 43-year-old right-hander made his 595th and final start for the Detroit Tigers, throwing 91 pitches over 5⅔ innings against Pittsburgh. When asked beforehand how long he might pitch, Verlander said his hope was simply to go five innings given a six-month absence from the mound due to hip and hamstring injuries.

He exceeded that target. Verlander recorded six strikeouts, including his 3,556th career strikeout when Oneil Cruz chased a breaking ball below the zone in the second inning. His final strikeout came against Ronny Simon in the fifth. The Pirates scored two runs on solo home runs, by Brandon Lowe in the fourth and Nick Gonzales in the fifth, leaving Pittsburgh with a 2-0 lead as Verlander's outing continued.

After Brandon Lowe popped up behind the plate to open the sixth inning, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walked to the mound. He was not alone. Genevieve, Verlander's 7-year-old daughter, ran out wearing a Tigers jersey with her father's name and number. She hugged him on the mound. About 25 seconds later, Hinch joined them for another embrace. Verlander's teammates converged around the pitcher's mound as the crowd at Comerica Park rose to its feet. Verlander walked off the field holding his daughter's hand.

On the warning track in front of the Tigers dugout, Verlander's wife held their 1-year-old son Bellamy as the family gathered for a group hug. A standing ovation continued as they walked toward the dugout. According to CBS Sports, Verlander said afterward: "The way it went, with Genevieve running out, I had no clue. Was totally blindsided. It hit me like a ton of bricks. That was amazing. I was sobbing. Walking off the field with my family, we talked a lot about how my life has changed and what my family means to me, what I'm looking forward to most in retirement, to be able to walk off the field with them, I can't think of a better ending."

Verlander's final line was two runs on five hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. He allowed 89.7 mph fastball to Lowe for a home run and a curve to Gonzales for another. The Tigers trailed 3-1 going into the ninth inning but rallied to win 4-3 on a walk-off two-run home run by rookie Eduardo Valencia. A.J. Hinch said after the game, per CBS Sports: "Oh yeah, there's no way Justin Verlander gets a loss in his last game. Valencia, right guy, right time, and we go off to a pretty good night."

Verlander leaves MLB with 266 wins against 159 losses, 3,561 strikeouts (eighth all-time), a 3.33 ERA, and a career record of 266-159 across 557 regular-season starts and 38 postseason appearances. He is a two-time World Series champion, winning with the Astros in 2017 and 2022. He won three Cy Young Awards (2011, 2019, 2022), the 2011 MVP Award, and was selected to 10 All-Star Games. He threw three career no-hitters. Verlander finished his career 37th all-time in wins, 29th in starts, and eighth in strikeouts.

Verlander was originally drafted by Detroit in 2004 and played his first 13 seasons there (2005-2017), winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2006. He was traded to Houston at the 2017 deadline, then moved to the Mets in 2022 before returning to the Astros (2022-2024), playing for San Francisco in 2025, and returning to the Tigers for 2026. In July, Verlander announced his intention to retire after the season, citing injuries and the belief he could no longer compete "at the level I expect of myself." He suffered a hamstring injury during a bullpen session on June 17 and missed time with hip and hamstring injuries from March 30 until his final start on Saturday. Verlander said he "skipped about a month's worth of rehab to be able to do this."

On Friday, September 25, during a pregame ceremony, Verlander addressed Tigers fans: "We've been through a lot over the years. Your love and support has meant the world to me. That love and support has solidified for me that I am, and always will be, a Detroit Tiger." Saturday was his first appearance at Comerica Park in 3,324 days. He was cheered when warming up in the bullpen, walking across the field to the dugout, and again when taking the mound. One notable moment came when Academy Award-winning actor J.K. Simmons, a Tigers fan, announced Verlander as part of Detroit's starting lineup.