Career Timeline of Justin Verlander: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Justin Verlander, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Justin Verlander is a highly decorated American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Detroit Tigers. He's celebrated as one of baseball's all-time greats, boasting three Cy Young Awards, an American League MVP Award, and two World Series championships with the Houston Astros. His career also includes stints with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. Verlander's exceptional talent and achievements have solidified his place among the most accomplished pitchers in MLB history.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1968: Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio

In 2016, Justin Verlander's 4.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best and a Tiger record for a season, eclipsing the 4.44 mark set by Denny McLain in the 1968 season.

1970: Franchise Record

On April 4, 2017, Justin Verlander tied a franchise record for the most strikeouts on Opening Day with ten, becoming the first Tigers player to do so since Mickey Lolich in 1970.

May 17, 2002: Struck out School Record 17 Batters

On May 17, 2002, Justin Verlander struck out a then-school record 17 batters against James Madison while playing for Old Dominion University.

2003: Pan American Games Silver Medal

In 2003, Justin Verlander helped lead the United States national team to a silver medal at the Pan American Games.

2003: Verlander won silver medal

In 2003, Justin Verlander pitched for the United States national baseball team and helped them win a silver medal in the Pan American Games.

2003: School Single-Season Strikeout Record

In 2003, Justin Verlander set a school single-season record by recording 139 strikeouts at Old Dominion University.

October 25, 2004: Signed contract with Detroit Tigers

On October 25, 2004, Justin Verlander signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers.

2004: CAA Strikeout Record

In 2004, Justin Verlander broke his own record and established a new Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record with 151 strikeouts.

2004: ODU Male Athlete of the Year

In 2004, Justin Verlander was named the ODU Alumni Association's Male Athlete of the Year and was the second overall pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers.

2004: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers

In 2004, the Detroit Tigers selected Justin Verlander with the second overall pick of the MLB draft.

July 4, 2005: MLB Debut

On July 4, 2005, Justin Verlander made his MLB debut. He went 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in his only two starts of the season.

2005: MLB Debut with the Detroit Tigers

In 2005, Justin Verlander made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers.

2005: Professional Debut

Justin Verlander made his professional debut in 2005, playing for two of Detroit's minor league affiliates and starting two games for the Tigers in July.

July 4, 2006: Multiple Fastballs Over 100 mph

On July 4, 2006, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Fernando Rodney each threw multiple fastballs over 100 mph (160 km/h). It was the first time in MLB history that three pitchers on the same team had done so during a game at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California.

2006: Lowest Strikeout Rate Since Rookie Season

In 2014, Justin Verlander's strikeout rate was the lowest since his 2006 rookie season.

2006: Pitch Count

Since his 2006 rookie season, Justin Verlander has thrown more pitches than any other pitcher, with 32,535 pitches in the regular season and 1,688 in the postseason as of 2015.

2007: No-Hitter Against the Brewers

In 2007, Justin Verlander accumulated 18 wins and on June 12, recorded a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out twelve and walking four while throwing a fastball 102 mph (164 km/h).

2007: First No-Hitter at Comerica Park

In 2007, Justin Verlander pitched the first no-hitter at Comerica Park.

2008: Innings Pitched

In 2013, Justin Verlander's 218+1⁄3 innings pitched were the lowest total since his 2008 season.

2008: All-Star Streak Ends

In 2014, Justin Verlander was not named to the AL All-Star team for the first time since 2008, snapping a streak of five straight appearances.

2008: Verlander's fastball velocity

Since 2008, Justin Verlander has thrown pitches of over 100+ mph in the 8th inning or later 44 times, more than any other player except for James Paxton.

July 24, 2009: Loaded Bases with Nobody Out in the Ninth Inning

On July 24, 2009, Justin Verlander became the first Major League starter in 24 years to load the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning or later and get out of it without allowing a run.

2009: Led AL in Wins and Strikeouts

In 2009, Justin Verlander led the American League (AL) in wins and strikeouts for the first time.

2009: Verlander leads league in innings pitched

In 2009, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and became the American League strikeout champion.

2009: Second-Best Strikeout Rate

In 2016, Justin Verlander's strikeout rate of 10.0 per 9 IP was the second-best of his career, trailing only the 10.1/9 rate posted in 2009.

2009: Finished Season with 19-9 Record

Justin Verlander finished the 2009 season with a 19-9 record, an ERA of 3.45 and an MLB-leading 269 strikeouts. Verlander finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

2010: Contract Extension and Season Performance

In 2010, Justin Verlander and the Tigers reached a deal for a five-year, $80 million contract extension. He earned his 10th win of the season, marking the fourth time in five years he has had double-digit wins before the All-Star break, and finished the season with an 18-9 record and a 3.37 ERA.

April 22, 2011: 1,000th Career Strikeout

On April 22, 2011, Justin Verlander recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in a 9–3 win over the White Sox, becoming the 15th Tiger to do so.

2011: Most Successful Season

In 2011, Justin Verlander had his most successful season, pitching his second career no-hitter and winning the Pitching Triple Crown, the AL Cy Young Award (unanimously), the AL MVP Award, and the Sporting News Player of the Year Award.

2011: Verlander leads league in innings pitched and strikeout champion

In 2011, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and became the American League strikeout champion.

2011: Won the Triple Crown of Pitching

In 2011, Justin Verlander won the Triple Crown of pitching in the AL, leading the league in wins (24), strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40).

May 18, 2012: Complete-Game One-Hitter

On May 18, 2012, Justin Verlander took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates before giving up a one-out single in a 6–0 victory. It was his first career complete-game one-hitter.

2012: Verlander leads league in innings pitched and strikeout champion

In 2012, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and became the American League strikeout champion.

2012: ALCS Appearance

In 2012, Justin Verlander made his only appearance in the ALCS in Game 3 against the New York Yankees, earning a 2–1 win after pitching eight innings and allowing only one run. This extended his consecutive scoreless postseason innings to 24.

2012: World Series Game 1

In 2012, Justin Verlander pitched Game 1 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants, giving up five earned runs in four innings, and the Tigers were swept in the Series.

2012: All-Star Game and Season Performance

In 2012, Justin Verlander was named to the American League All-Star team as the starting pitcher. At the All-Star break, he had a 9–5 record and a 2.58 ERA. He finished the 2012 regular season with a 17–8 record, leading the AL in innings pitched and strikeouts, and ranking second in ERA.

2013: Verlander tied postseason record in ALCS

During Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS, Justin Verlander achieved a postseason record-tying six consecutive hitter strikeouts, a feat he repeated in the 2022 ALCS.

2013: Verlander formed Wins for Warriors Foundation and received Bob Feller Act of Valor Award

In 2013, Justin Verlander formed the Wins for Warriors Foundation for veterans of the United States Military, donating over $1 million to the organization. He was also honored as one of the inaugural recipients of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.

2013: All-Star Selection

In 2013, Justin Verlander was selected as a reserve pitcher for the American League All-Star team, marking his sixth All-Star selection. However, he was unavailable for the game due to starting a game on July 14. Entering the All-Star break, Verlander had a 10–6 record and a 3.50 ERA.

2013: ALCS Game 3

In 2013, during Game 3 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, Justin Verlander threw 6+1⁄3 scoreless innings (running his 2013 postseason scoreless streak to 21+1⁄3 innings) before allowing a solo home run. Despite striking out ten batters in eight innings, Verlander lost a 1–0 decision.

2013: Postseason Performance

In the 2013 postseason, Justin Verlander had a 1–1 record with a 0.39 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 innings, although the Red Sox eliminated the Tigers in six ALCS games.

2013: Contract Extension

Prior to the 2013 season, Justin Verlander and the Tigers agreed to a seven-year, $180 million contract, making him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.

2014: Improved Second Half of Season

In 2014, Justin Verlander improved his performance in the second half of the season, lowering his ERA and WHIP. He finished with a 15–12 record.

2014: AL Central Division Championship

In 2014, Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Detroit Tigers winning their fourth consecutive AL Central division championship.

2014: Verlander's average fastball velocity

In 2014, Justin Verlander's average fastball velocity was 91.2 mph.

2014: First Half Struggles

Justin Verlander struggled in the first half of 2014, with lowered strikeout rates and elevated ERA and WHIP. He was also not named to the AL All-Star team, ending a streak of five straight appearances.

2015: Disabled List Placement

In 2015, Justin Verlander started the season on the disabled list due to a right triceps strain, ending his streak of seven consecutive Opening Day starts for the Tigers. This marked the first time he had been placed on the DL in his major league career.

2015: Verlander's average fastball velocity

In 2015, Justin Verlander's average fastball velocity was 92.3 mph.

2015: Near No-Hitter

On August 26, 2015, Justin Verlander came within three outs of his third career no-hitter before allowing a double to Chris Iannetta. He finished the game with one hit, two walks, and nine strikeouts in a 5–0 victory. Verlander finished 2015 with a 5–8 record, a 3.38 ERA and 1.088 WHIP.

2016: Verlander became American League strikeout champion

In 2016, Justin Verlander became the American League strikeout champion.

2016: Strikeout Milestones

In 2016, Justin Verlander recorded his 1,981st strikeout in his Tiger career, surpassing Jack Morris for second place on the list of all-time Tiger strikeout leaders. He also recorded his 2,000th career strikeout, becoming just the second Tigers pitcher to reach the milestone. Going into the 2016 All-Star break with an 8–6 record.

2016: AL Pitcher of the Month and Performance

In 2016, Justin Verlander was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July, going 4–0 with a 1.69 ERA and 48 strikeouts. On September 27, Verlander struck out 12 Cleveland Indians batters to give him a career-high eight games this season in which he totaled 10 or more strikeouts.

2016: Season Stats and Achievements

Justin Verlander finished the 2016 season with a 16–9 record and led the American League with 254 strikeouts, for the fourth time in his career. His 4.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best and a Tiger record for a season, eclipsing the 4.44 mark set by Denny McLain in the 1968 season.

April 4, 2017: Opening Day Strikeouts

On April 4, 2017, Justin Verlander tied a franchise record for the most strikeouts on Opening Day with ten, becoming the first Tigers player to do so since Mickey Lolich in 1970.

2017: Traded to Astros and World Series Win

In 2017, Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros, went undefeated in his first five starts, was named AL Championship Series MVP, and co-won the Babe Ruth Award as the Astros won the World Series.

2017: Verlander's fastball velocity soared back up

In Justin Verlander's 2017 campaign, his fastball velocity soared back up to an average of 95.3 mph.

2017: Astros clinch a postseason berth in a Verlander start

Since 2017, the Astros have clinched a postseason berth in a Justin Verlander start four times since he was traded to the team.

2018: Verlander became American League strikeout champion

In 2018, Justin Verlander became the American League strikeout champion.

2018: 200th Career Win

In 2018, Justin Verlander earned his 200th career win.

2019: Third No-Hitter and Second Cy Young Award

In 2019, Justin Verlander became the sixth pitcher in MLB history to throw three career no-hitters, had his first career 300-strikeout season, and won his second Cy Young award while leading the Astros to their second pennant.

2019: Verlander leads league in innings pitched

In 2019, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched.

2019: Contract Vesting Option

Justin Verlander's contract with the Tigers included a $22 million vesting option for 2020 if he finishes in the top five in Cy Young Award voting in 2019.

2020: Vesting Option Year

Justin Verlander's contract with the Tigers had a $22 million vesting option for 2020 if he met certain criteria in 2019.

2020: First Game Since 2020

On April 9, 2022, Justin Verlander made his way back to the baseball field against the Los Angeles Angels for the first time since Opening Day 2020. In the game, Verlander struck out seven and allowed one run over five innings in a 2-0 loss.

2021: Max Scherzer's contract

In the 2021-22 offseason, Max Scherzer signed a contract with the highest AAV in MLB history, a record that was matched by Justin Verlander's contract with the Mets.

August 23, 2022: Verlander passes Pedro Martínez on all-time strikeout list

On August 23, 2022, Justin Verlander threw six hitless innings with ten strikeouts in a win against the Minnesota Twins. With this performance, Verlander surpassed Pedro Martínez on the all-time strikeout list and regained the active career lead in strikeouts from Max Scherzer.

December 7, 2022: Verlander signed with the New York Mets

On December 7, 2022, Justin Verlander signed a two-year, $86.7 million contract with the New York Mets, including a $35 million vesting option for 2025. The contract matched the record for highest AAV in MLB history.

December 2022: Signed with the Mets

In December 2022, Justin Verlander signed with the New York Mets.

2022: Verlander concludes 2022 campaign

In 2022, Justin Verlander concluded his season with an 18–4 record, a 1.75 ERA, and 185 strikeouts across 175 innings. He led the Major Leagues in ERA, WHIP (0.829), and BAA (.186), and the American League in wins. His ERA was the lowest for a pitcher over 39 with at least 25 starts.

2022: Verlander won his first World Series

In the 2022 World Series, Justin Verlander allowed five earned runs in Game 1, giving him a career 6.07 ERA in World Series games. Later, in Game 5, he allowed one earned run over five innings and struck out six, securing his first career World Series win as the Astros won the series, giving Verlander his second World Series ring.

August 1, 2023: Verlander traded back to the Houston Astros

On August 1, 2023, the New York Mets traded Justin Verlander back to the Houston Astros for outfield prospects Drew Gilbert, Ryan Clifford, and cash considerations.

August 2023: Traded Back to the Astros

In August 2023, Justin Verlander was traded back to the Houston Astros.

2023: Verlander declined invitation to World Baseball Classic

In 2023, Justin Verlander declined an invitation to join the United States national team at the World Baseball Classic due to his recent recovery from Tommy John surgery and World Series campaign.

2023: Verlander made debut against former team and defeated all 30 teams

In 2023, Justin Verlander was activated from the IL and made his debut against his former team, the Detroit Tigers, and defeated all 30 teams in MLB history.

May 25, 2024: Verlander passed Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list

On May 25, 2024, Justin Verlander passed Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list. This victory was also the 260th of Verlander's career, the most of any pitcher who debuted in the 21st century.

2024: Verlander started the season on the injured list and passed Phil Niekro for 12th on all-time strikeout list

Justin Verlander started the 2024 season on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation during spring training. On his season debut on April 19, he passed Phil Niekro for 12th on the all-time strikeout list with his 3,343rd career strikeout.

January 11, 2025: Verlander signed with the San Francisco Giants

On January 11, 2025, Justin Verlander signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants.

January 2025: Signed with the Giants

In January 2025, Justin Verlander signed with the San Francisco Giants.

September 2025: MLB Active Leader

As of September 2025, Justin Verlander is MLB's active leader in career wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched and is the oldest active player in Major League Baseball.

2025: Verlander's Mets contract includes vesting option

Justin Verlander's two-year contract with the New York Mets, signed on December 7, 2022, included a $35 million vesting option for 2025.

2025: Verlander career strikeouts

Through the 2025 season, Justin Verlander ranked eighth all-time in career strikeouts, with over 3,500 batters fanned.

February 10, 2026: Verlander returns to the Detroit Tigers

On February 10, 2026, Justin Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract to return to the Detroit Tigers.

2026: Returned to the Tigers

In 2026, Justin Verlander returned to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year contract.

2030: Deferred payments begin for Verlander's contract

Justin Verlander's contract to return to the Detroit Tigers, signed on February 10, 2026, included deferred payments of $11 million starting in 2030.

Mentioned in this timeline

Babe Ruth nicknamed the Bambino and the Sultan of Swat...

Radar is a radiodetermination system employing radio waves to ascertain...

San Francisco is the fourth-most populous city in California and...

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and...

News encompasses information about current events disseminated through various media...

Max Scherzer nicknamed Mad Max is a highly decorated MLB...