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 professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the San Francisco Giants. He's played for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Recognized as one of baseball's all-time greatest pitchers, he has won three Cy Young Awards and an AL MVP Award.

Sections (5)

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

1968: Tiger Record Eclipsed

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: Tied Record for Most 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.

1998: Complete Game Loss Without a Runner on Base

In 1998, Mike Mussina pitched a complete game loss without ever throwing a pitch with a runner on base.

2000: Lowest WHIP in a Major League Season

In 2000, Pedro Martínez posted a 0.737 WHIP, which was the lowest in a major league season, setting a high standard for pitching performance.

2002: First Teammates with 250 Strikeouts

In 2002, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling achieved a milestone as teammates, each striking out at least 250 batters in the same season.

2002: Previous Pitchers to Strike Out 300+

In 2002, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were the pair of starting pitchers to strike out 300+ hitters in the same season.

2003: Pan American Games Silver Medal

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

October 25, 2004: Signed Contract with Detroit Tigers

On October 25, 2004, Justin Verlander signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers, marking the start of his professional baseball career.

2004: ODU Alumni Association's 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 Detroit Tigers

In 2004, Justin Verlander was selected by the Detroit Tigers as the second overall pick in 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 Detroit Tigers

In 2005, Justin Verlander made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers, marking the start of his 12-year tenure with the team.

2005: Professional Debut

In 2005, Justin Verlander made his professional debut playing for two of Detroit's minor league affiliates, the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Erie SeaWolves, and also started two games for the Tigers in July.

2005: First Time Pitching for the Mud Hens

On May 31, 2015, Justin Verlander was sent to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens for a rehab assignment. It was his first time ever pitching for the Mud Hens, as he had gone straight from Double-A to the major leagues in 2005.

July 4, 2006: Multiple Fastballs over 100 mph

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

2006: Most Pitches Thrown Since Rookie Season

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

2006: AL Pennant

In 2006, Justin Verlander played a role in the Detroit Tigers winning the AL pennant.

2006: AL Rookie of the Year

In 2006, Justin Verlander was named AL Rookie of the Year.

2006: Lowest Strikeout Rate Since Rookie Season

In 2014, Justin Verlander's strikeout rate remained low finishing with 159 strikeouts and a 6.9 K/9 IP rate, both the lowest since his 2006 rookie season.

2007: First No-Hitter at Comerica Park

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

2007: No-Hitter Against Milwaukee Brewers

In 2007, Justin Verlander recorded a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, striking out twelve and walking four while throwing a fastball 102 mph.

2008: Lowest Innings Pitched Since 2008

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

2008: End of All-Star Streak

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

2008: Previous Shortest Outing

Prior to an outing in August 2014, Justin Verlander's shortest outing was 1+1⁄3 innings in 2008.

July 24, 2009: Escaped Bases Loaded No Out Jam

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 MLB in Strikeouts

In 2009, Justin Verlander finished the season with an MLB-leading 269 strikeouts and 19 wins, also finishing third in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

2009: Second-Best Strikeout Rate

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

2010: Contract Extension and Season Performance

In 2010, Justin Verlander reached a five-year, $80 million contract extension with the Tigers. He also earned his 10th win of the season before the All-Star break and finished 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: AL Triple Crown, League Leading Stats

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

2011: Pitching Triple Crown, Cy Young Award, MVP Award

In 2011, Justin Verlander achieved his most successful season, 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: Awards and Cover Athlete

In 2011, Justin Verlander received the AL Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award, Sporting News Player of the Year Award, a Players Choice Award, and a USA Today American League Cy Young, and was named the cover athlete of Major League Baseball 2K12.

2011: AL Central Division Championship

In 2011, Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Detroit Tigers' AL Central division championship, the first of four consecutive such titles.

2011: AL Cy Young and MVP Awards

In 2011, Justin Verlander won both the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP Award, becoming the first pitcher to claim an AL MVP Award since Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and the first starting pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1986 to do so.

2011: Last Time Posting Lower ERA

The 2.52 ERA Justin Verlander posted in 2018 was the lowest ERA he had since his American League MVP and Cy Young Award-winning 2011 season.

May 18, 2012: One-Hitter Against Pirates

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, resulting in a 6-0 victory. It was his first career complete-game one-hitter, his 16th complete game overall, and sixth career shutout.

2012: Second Closest Cy Young Vote

Following the 2016 season, Justin Verlander finished second in Cy Young voting, losing to Rick Porcello. This vote was the second-closest in history, similar to the 2012 AL Cy Young race where Verlander also lost.

2012: ALCS Game 3 Performance

In 2012, Justin Verlander appeared in Game 3 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees, earning a 2-1 win. He pitched eight innings, allowing only two hits before giving up a leadoff home run in the ninth to Eduardo Núñez. After giving up one run in the first inning of Game 1 in the ALDS and one run in the ninth inning of Game 3 in the ALCS, Verlander recorded 24 consecutive scoreless postseason innings.

2012: 2012 World Series Game 1

In 2012, Justin Verlander pitched in Game 1 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants, where he allowed five earned runs in four innings, including two home runs to Pablo Sandoval, as the Tigers were ultimately swept in the Series.

2012: All-Star Selection and Regular Season Performance

In 2012, Justin Verlander was named to the American League All-Star team, starting as the AL pitcher. By the All-Star break, he had a 9-5 record with a 2.58 ERA, leading the AL in innings pitched (132+2⁄3), strikeouts (128), and complete games (five). He finished the 2012 regular season with a 17-8 record, leading the AL in innings pitched (238+1⁄3), strikeouts (239), and complete games (six), and ranking second in ERA (2.64).

2012: AL Pennant

In 2012, Justin Verlander was part of the Detroit Tigers team that secured the AL pennant.

2013: ALDS Games 2 and 5

During the 2013 ALDS, Justin Verlander struck out eleven Oakland Athletics hitters in seven shutout innings in Game 2, although the Tigers lost the game 1–0. In Game 5 of the same series, Verlander pitched eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts in a 3–0 victory, carrying a no-hitter into the 7th inning. This win advanced the Tigers to the American League Championship Series for the third consecutive year. Verlander defeated the Athletics in Game 5 of the ALDS for the second straight season, joining Bob Gibson, Chris Carpenter, and Matt Cain as the only starting pitchers in Major League history with multiple wins in elimination postseason games.

2013: Contract Extension

In 2013, Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a seven-year, $180 million contract. The contract included a $22 million vesting option for 2020 if he finished in the top five in Cy Young Award voting in 2019, making him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.

2013: Last Time Hitting Triple Digits

In 2013, Justin Verlander last hit triple digits on the radar gun, marking a high point in his velocity before subsequent seasons where injuries affected his performance.

2013: All-Star Selection

In 2013, Justin Verlander was selected as a reserve pitcher for the American League All-Star team by his manager, Jim Leyland. It was Verlander's sixth All-Star selection, but he was unavailable for the July 16 All-Star game due to starting a game on July 14 for the Tigers. By the All-Star break, Verlander had a 10–6 record, 125 strikeouts, and a 3.50 ERA.

2013: ALCS Game 3 Performance

In Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, Justin Verlander threw 6+1⁄3 scoreless innings, extending his 2013 postseason scoreless streak to 21+1⁄3 innings before allowing a solo home run to Mike Napoli in the seventh. Despite striking out ten batters in eight innings and giving up only one run, Verlander lost a 1–0 decision. It was Verlander's sixth career postseason game with ten or more strikeouts, surpassing every other pitcher in MLB postseason history.

2013: Postseason Performance and Elimination

In the 2013 postseason, which saw the Red Sox winning the World Series, Justin Verlander had a 1–1 record with a 0.39 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 innings. The Red Sox eliminated the Tigers in six ALCS games, and in two of Verlander's starts, the Tigers had no offensive runs.

2013: End of Regular Season

Justin Verlander finished the 2013 regular season with a 13–12 record, a 3.46 ERA, and 217 strikeouts.

January 9, 2014: Core Muscle Surgery

On January 9, 2014, Justin Verlander underwent core muscle surgery. The Tigers projected that he might miss Opening Day due to the surgery, but he recovered in time for spring training in February 2014.

February 2014: Recovery and Return to Training

In February 2014, Justin Verlander had recovered from core muscle surgery in time to report with the pitchers and catchers to training camp. He had undergone surgery on January 9, 2014.

2014: Fourth Consecutive AL Central Division Championship

In 2014, Justin Verlander contributed to the Detroit Tigers winning their fourth consecutive AL Central division championship.

2014: First Half Struggles and All-Star Snub

In the first half of 2014, Justin Verlander struggled with a decrease in strikeouts (6.8 per nine innings) compared to his average (9.2 over the last five years), and elevated ERA and WHIP (4.71 and 1.49, respectively). Consequently, he was not named to the AL All-Star team, ending a streak of five consecutive appearances.

2014: Second Half Improvement

Justin Verlander showed some improvement in the second half of 2014, with his season ERA dropping to 4.54 and WHIP to 1.398. He finished with a 15–12 record, winning his final three decisions, and the Tigers won 6 of his last 8 starts. His strikeout rate remained low, with 159 strikeouts and a 6.9 K/9 IP rate, both the lowest since his 2006 rookie season.

2015: Disabled List Placement

Justin Verlander started the 2015 season on the disabled list due to a right triceps strain, which ended his streak of seven consecutive Opening Day starts for the Tigers. This was the first time Verlander had been placed on the DL in his major league career, following 298 career starts and 1,978 innings pitched.

2015: Near No-Hitter and Season Performance

On August 26, 2015, Justin Verlander came within three outs of his third career no-hitter before allowing a double to Chris Iannetta in the ninth inning. He finished the game with one hit, two walks, and nine strikeouts in a 5–0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, marking his seventh career complete-game shutout and second career complete-game one-hitter. Verlander ended 2015 with a 5–8 record in 20 starts, but his other stats showed considerable improvement over the previous season, including a 3.38 ERA and 1.088 WHIP.

2016: Milestone Strikeouts and All-Star Break

In 2016, on May 8, 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. On May 18, Verlander reached his 2,000th career strikeout, becoming just the second Tigers pitcher to reach the milestone following Mickey Lolich. He went into the 2016 All-Star break with an 8–6 record, 4.07 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 120 strikeouts in 117+1⁄3 innings.

2016: Leading the American League

Justin Verlander finished the 2016 season with a 16–9 record, leading the American League with 254 strikeouts. He also finished first in the AL with a 1.00 WHIP, and his 3.04 ERA ranked second. His 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. His 4.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best and a Tiger record for a season.

2016: Pitcher of the Month and Post All-Star Break Performance

Justin Verlander was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July 2016, going 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 48 strikeouts. From July 15 on, he compiled an 8–3 record, 1.96 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 134 strikeouts. On October 2, Verlander intentionally walked Nick Markakis of the Atlanta Braves, the last four-pitch intentional walk before the rule change.

April 4, 2017: Opening Day Strikeout 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.

November 4, 2017: Marriage to Kate Upton

On November 4, 2017, Justin Verlander married model-actress Kate Upton in a medieval church in Tuscany, Italy, two days after winning the World Series with the Astros.

2017: Astros Set New Major League Record

In 2017, Justin Verlander helped the Astros set a new Major League record for the most strikeouts by their starters in a season, breaking the mark set by the Cleveland Indians.

2017: Traded to Astros and World Series Win

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

2017: Velocity Rebound

In 2017, Justin Verlander's fastball velocity dramatically increased, averaging 95.3 mph. This was a significant improvement, surpassing his 2014 average of 91.2 mph and his 2015 average of 92.3 mph. He also reached triple digits on the radar gun for the first time since 2013.

2017: First Pitcher Since Scherzer and Sale to Have Six Straight Starts with 10+ Strikeouts

In 2017, Max Scherzer and Chris Sale became the first pitchers to achieve this feat.

2017: Trade to the Houston Astros

In 2017, just before the waiver trade deadline on August 31, the Detroit Tigers traded Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros for prospects Franklin Pérez, Jake Rogers, and Daz Cameron. Verlander quickly became a key player, winning all five of his regular season starts with Houston, posting a 1.06 ERA and 0.65 WHIP. The Astros skipped his final scheduled start on October 1 to have him start the first game of the ALDS. He finished the 2017 regular season with a 15–8 record, 3.36 ERA, 1.175 WHIP, and 219 strikeouts in 206 innings, throwing more pitches than any other major league pitcher for the second consecutive year.

2017: Babe Ruth Award

In the 2017 postseason, Justin Verlander made six appearances and five starts, achieving a 4–1 record, a 2.21 ERA, and 38 strikeouts. He was named co-MVP of the 2017 postseason and won the Babe Ruth Award along with Jose Altuve.

March 5, 2018: Named Opening Day Starter for Astros

On March 5, 2018, Justin Verlander was named the opening day starter for the Houston Astros, marking his 10th career opening day start and his first with Houston.

2018: 200 Career Wins

In 2018, Justin Verlander achieved 200 career wins, becoming the 114th pitcher in major league history to reach this milestone and the 20th-fastest to do so with 427 starts.

2018: Dominant Start to the Season

In 2018, Justin Verlander had a masterful start to the season, leading an Astros rotation that was the most dominant in the major leagues. In April 2018, Verlander went 4–0 with a 1.36 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 40 innings and was named the AL Player of the Week on April 17.

2018: AL Pitcher of the Month for May

In 2018, Justin Verlander led the AL in 17 different categories and was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May, marking his fifth such award. He produced a 0.86 ERA and .437 OPS against, allowing nine extra-base hits, while striking out 50 over 41+2⁄3 innings. He dominated the Yankees, allowing only one run in 14+2⁄3 innings.

2018: Career-High Strikeouts

Justin Verlander finished the 2018 season with a 16–9 record, posting a 2.52 ERA and a career-high 290 strikeouts. He led the AL in strikeouts for the fifth time in his career and also led the major leagues with a 0.902 WHIP and a 7.84 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

2018: Impact of Core Surgery

Justin Verlander mentioned in 2018 that he had not fully recovered from the core surgery during the 2014 season, contributing to his production being inferior to his career norms during the 2014 season.

2018: Second Place in Cy Young Voting

On November 14, 2018, Justin Verlander finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting to Blake Snell of the Tampa Bay Rays. This was his third Cy Young runner-up finish and sixth time finishing in the top five.

March 24, 2019: Contract Extension with the Astros

On March 24, 2019, Justin Verlander and the Astros agreed on a two-year, $66 million contract extension to keep Verlander with Houston through the 2021 season.

November 12, 2019: Second Cy Young Award

On November 12, 2019, Justin Verlander won his second Cy Young Award, receiving 171 points and 17 of 30 first-place votes, surpassing teammate Gerrit Cole. This was the first time he received the award while playing for the Houston Astros.

2019: 200th Postseason Strikeout

During game 2 of the 2019 World Series, Justin Verlander recorded the 200th postseason strikeout of his career, setting a new major league record. However, he lost the game, becoming the first pitcher in major league history to lose his first five World Series decisions.

2019: 300-Strikeout Season and Second Cy Young Award

In 2019, Justin Verlander had his first career 300-strikeout season and won his second Cy Young Award, while also leading the Astros to their second pennant in three seasons.

2019: Third No-Hitter and 3,000 Strikeouts

In 2019, Justin Verlander threw his third career no-hitter, becoming the sixth pitcher in MLB history to achieve this feat, and also became the 18th pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters.

2019: Cy Young Award Consideration

In 2019, Justin Verlander's performance would determine whether he would finish in the top five in Cy Young Award voting, which would trigger a $22 million vesting option for 2020 in his contract with the Detroit Tigers.

2019: Outstanding Season Performance

Justin Verlander finished the 2019 season with a 21–6 record, 300 strikeouts, and a 2.58 ERA in 223 innings pitched. He led MLB in innings pitched and games started, led in wins, and his 0.803 WHIP was the lowest in a major league season since 2000.

2019: 3,000th Career Strikeout and 300th Strikeout of the Season

On September 28, 2019, Justin Verlander struck out Kole Calhoun for his 3,000th career strikeout, becoming the 18th pitcher in history to reach this milestone. Later in the same game, he recorded his 300th strikeout of the season, achieving his first 300-strikeout season and becoming the second player in Major League history after Randy Johnson to achieve his first 300 strikeout season in the same game as recording a 3,000th career strikeout.

July 24, 2020: 12th Career Opening Day Start

On July 24, 2020, Justin Verlander made his 12th career opening day start, earning the win after striking out seven and giving up two runs through six innings. This marked the Astros' eighth straight win on Opening Day since their move to the AL West in 2013.

2020: Contract Vesting Option Year

In 2020, Justin Verlander's contract with the Detroit Tigers included a $22 million vesting option based on his performance in 2019.

December 13, 2021: Signs One-Year Contract with Astros

On December 13, 2021, Justin Verlander signed a one-year contract with the Astros, including an option for a second season, marking his return to the team after recovering from surgery.

April 9, 2022: First Game Back Since Opening Day 2020

On April 9, 2022, Justin Verlander made his return to the mound against the Los Angeles Angels, marking his first game since Opening Day 2020, following recovery from surgery. He struck out seven and allowed one run over five innings in a 2–0 loss.

August 23, 2022: Verlander Passes Pedro Martinez on Strikeout List

On August 23, 2022, Verlander pitched six hitless innings with ten strikeouts in a 4–2 victory against the Minnesota Twins. During the game, Verlander surpassed Pedro Martínez on the all-time strikeout list and regained the lead as the active career leader in strikeouts over Max Scherzer.

2022: Return, World Series, Third Cy Young Award

In 2022, Justin Verlander returned and won 18 games with a sub-2.00 ERA, leading the Astros to their second World Championship and receiving his third Cy Young Award that offseason.

2022: Ryan Pressly Ties Franchise Record

In 2022, teammate Ryan Pressly tied the Astros franchise record for consecutive batters retired in a row, at 32, a record previously set by Justin Verlander.

August 1, 2023: Verlander Traded Back to Houston Astros

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

May 25, 2024: Verlander Passes Greg Maddux on All-Time Strikeout List

On May 25, 2024, Justin Verlander recorded his 3,372nd career strikeout against Abraham Toro, surpassing Greg Maddux for 10th place on the all-time strikeout list during a 6–3 win over the Oakland Athletics. This victory marked the 260th of Verlander's career, the most for any pitcher who debuted in the 21st century.