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 San Francisco Giants. He previously played for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers ever, Verlander is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and an American League MVP. His career is marked by sustained excellence and significant achievements in Major League Baseball.

Sections (5)

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

1968: Denny McLain's 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: Last Time Opening Day Record Achieved

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.

1973: Verlander Awarded AL Player of the Week

For the week of September 25 to October 1, Justin Verlander was awarded his 10th career AL Player of the Week award, becoming the fourth pitcher to win as many as 10 times since the award was established in 1973.

2003: Silver Medal at Pan American Games

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

2003: Verlander wins silver medal at Pan American Games

In 2003, as a college sophomore, Justin Verlander pitched for the United States national baseball team and helped the US win a silver medal in the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.

October 25, 2004: Signed Contract with Detroit Tigers

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

2004: ODU Athlete of the Year and MLB Draft Pick

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

2004: Drafted by 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 Detroit Tigers

In 2005, Justin Verlander made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers, playing there for 12 years.

2005: Professional Debut

In 2005, Justin Verlander made his professional debut, playing for the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Erie SeaWolves.

2005: First Time Pitching for Toledo Mud Hens

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

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 during a game against the Oakland A's, a first in MLB history for three pitchers on the same team.

2006: AL Pennant with Detroit Tigers

In 2006, Justin Verlander was a key figure as the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant.

2006: Lowest Strikeout Rate Since Rookie Season

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

2006: Most Pitches Thrown Since Rookie Season

In 2015, Justin Verlander had 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.

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.

2008: Lowest Innings Pitched Since 2008 Season

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 his streak of five straight All-Star appearances.

2008: Previous Shortest Outing

On August 11, 2014 Justin Verlander experienced the shortest outing of his career due to right shoulder soreness. His previous shortest outing was 1+1⁄3 innings in 2008.

July 24, 2009: Escaped Bases Loaded No Outs

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: Finished Season with 19 Wins and MLB-Leading Strikeouts

In 2009, Justin Verlander finished the season with a 19–9 record, an ERA of 3.45 and an MLB-leading 269 strikeouts, the most by a Tiger since Mickey Lolich's 308 in 1971. Verlander finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

2009: AL Leader in Wins and Strikeouts

In 2009, Justin Verlander led the AL in both wins and strikeouts for the first time.

2009: Verlander leads league in innings pitched and strikeouts

In 2009, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and was an American League strikeout champion, also leading major league baseball in strikeouts.

2009: Second Best Strikeout Rate of Career

In 2016, Justin Verlander had a strikeout rate of 10.0 per 9 innings, which was the second-best of his career, trailing only his 10.1/9 rate posted in 2009.

2010: Contract Extension and Season Performance

In 2010, Justin Verlander reached a deal with the Tigers for a five-year, $80 million contract extension. He earned his 10th win of the season on July 3, marking the fourth time in five years he has had double-digit wins before the All-Star break. He 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: Successful Season in 2011

In 2011, Justin Verlander had his most successful season, including his second career no-hitter versus the Toronto Blue Jays. He won the Pitching Triple Crown, the AL Cy Young Award, the AL MVP Award, and the Sporting News Player of the Year Award.

2011: Verlander leads league in innings pitched and strikeouts

In 2011, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and was an American League strikeout champion, also leading major league baseball in strikeouts.

2011: AL Central Division Championship

In 2011, Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Detroit Tigers' AL Central division championship.

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.

2011: Verlander's ERA title

In 2011, Justin Verlander won his first ERA title during his MVP campaign.

2011: Won Triple Crown of Pitching in AL

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: Cy Young Award Voting Loss

Following the 2016 season, Justin Verlander was a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award, but finished second in the voting, losing to Rick Porcello by a narrow margin. It was the second-closest vote in history, similar to the 2012 AL Cy Young race that Verlander also lost. Verlander received more first-place votes than Porcello but was left off two ballots.

2012: Verlander leads league in innings pitched and strikeouts

In 2012, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and was an American League strikeout champion, also leading major league baseball in strikeouts.

2012: AL Pennant with Detroit Tigers

In 2012, Justin Verlander was a key figure as the Detroit Tigers won the AL pennant.

2012: All-Star Selection and Regular Season Performance

In 2012, Justin Verlander was named to the American League All-Star team and was the AL starting pitcher. At the All-Star break, he had a 9–5 record with a 2.58 ERA in 18 games, leading the AL in innings pitched, strikeouts, and complete games. He pitched one inning in the All-Star Game, allowing five runs. Verlander finished the 2012 regular season with a 17–8 record, leading the AL in innings pitched, strikeouts, and complete games, and ranking second in ERA.

2012: World Series Performance Against San Francisco Giants

In Game 1 of the 2012 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, Justin Verlander gave up five earned runs in four innings pitched, including two home runs to Pablo Sandoval. The Tigers were eventually swept in the Series.

2012: ALCS Appearance Against New York Yankees

In the 2012 ALCS, Justin Verlander made his sole appearance in Game 3 against the New York Yankees, securing a 2–1 victory. He held the Yankees hitters scoreless on two hits through eight innings before Eduardo Núñez hit a leadoff home run in the ninth. From the first inning of Game 1 in the ALDS to the ninth inning of Game 3 in the ALCS, Verlander recorded 24 consecutive scoreless postseason innings.

2012: ALDS Performance Against Oakland Athletics

In the 2012 ALDS against the Oakland Athletics, Justin Verlander started Game 1 and secured a 3–1 victory. In the decisive Game 5, he pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only four hits, as the Tigers triumphed 6–0, advancing to the 2012 ALCS. Verlander's performance included striking out 11 in each of his ALDS starts, making him the first pitcher in MLB history to record over 10 strikeouts in a winner-take-all postseason shutout. He set an ALDS record with 22 strikeouts in the series.

2013: ALDS Performance Against Oakland Athletics

During Game 2 of the 2013 ALDS, Justin Verlander struck out eleven Oakland Athletics hitters in seven shutout innings. Despite his efforts, the Tigers lost the game 1–0. In Game 5, Verlander pitched eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts, leading the Tigers to a 3–0 victory and advancing them to the ALCS for the third consecutive year. Verlander is one of four starting pitchers in MLB history to have multiple wins in elimination postseason games.

2013: 2013 Regular Season Performance

In 2013, Justin Verlander finished the regular season with a 13–12 record, a 3.46 ERA, and 217 strikeouts. His 218+1⁄3 innings pitched were his lowest total since the 2008 season.

2013: Verlander receives Bob Feller Act of Valor Award

In 2013, Justin Verlander was honored as one of the inaugural recipients of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award for his work with military veterans.

2013: All-Star Selection and Performance Before Break

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

2013: ALCS Performance Against Boston Red Sox

In Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, Justin Verlander threw 6+1⁄3 scoreless innings before allowing a solo home run to Mike Napoli in the seventh. Despite striking out ten batters in eight innings and allowing only one run, Verlander lost a 1–0 decision. This was his sixth career postseason game with ten or more strikeouts, setting a new MLB postseason record.

2013: Verlander ties postseason record in 2013 ALCS

In Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS, Justin Verlander struck out a postseason record-tying six consecutive hitters.

2013: 2013 Postseason Performance and Elimination

In the 2013 postseason, the eventual World Series champion Red Sox eliminated the Tigers in six ALCS games. Justin Verlander had a 1–1 record with a 0.39 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 postseason innings, with two of his starts resulting in no runs scored by the Tigers' offense.

2013: Contract Extension with the Tigers

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

2014: AL Central Division Championship

In 2014, Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Detroit Tigers' AL Central division championship.

2014: Struggles in the First Half of 2014

In the first half of 2014, Justin Verlander experienced a decline in performance, with reduced strikeouts and elevated ERA and WHIP. He was not named to the AL All-Star team for the first time since 2008, ending a streak of five consecutive appearances.

2014: Improved Performance in the Second Half of 2014

In the second half of 2014, Justin Verlander improved his performance, lowering his season ERA and WHIP, and winning his final three decisions to finish with a 15–12 record. However, his strikeout rate remained low. In 2018, he mentioned that he had not fully recovered from core surgery during the 2014 season, which impacted his production.

2015: Disabled List Placement and Opening Day Start Streak Ends

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. It was the first time he had been placed on the DL in his major league career, following 298 career starts and 1,978 innings pitched. Since his rookie season in 2006, Verlander had thrown more pitches than any other pitcher.

2015: Near No-Hitter and Improved Stats

On August 26, 2015, Justin Verlander nearly achieved his third career no-hitter but allowed a double to Chris Iannetta with three outs remaining. He finished the game with one hit, two walks, and nine strikeouts, securing a 5–0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. He ended 2015 with a 5–8 record, but his other stats showed considerable improvement, including a 3.38 ERA and 1.088 WHIP.

2016: Season Stats and League Leading Performance

In 2016, Justin Verlander finished the season with a 16–9 record and led 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 and strikeout-to-walk ratio were among the best of his career, and he joined Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens as the only AL pitchers to strike out 250 or more batters in a season after turning 33 years old.

2016: Milestones and All-Star Break Performance

In 2016, Justin Verlander recorded his 1,981st strikeout in his Tiger career on May 8, surpassing Jack Morris for second place on the all-time Tiger strikeout list. On May 18, he reached his 2,000th career strikeout. Going into the 2016 All-Star break, he had an 8–6 record, a 4.07 ERA, and 120 strikeouts.

2016: Verlander starts "Wins For Warriors Foundation"

In 2016, Justin Verlander started the "Wins For Warriors Foundation" for veterans of the United States Military.

2016: Verlander is an American League strikeout champion

In 2016, Justin Verlander was an American League strikeout champion.

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

In July 2016, Justin Verlander was named the American League Pitcher of the Month after going 4–0 with a 1.69 ERA and 48 strikeouts. After the All-Star Break, Verlander had an 8–3 record, a 1.96 ERA, and 134 strikeouts. On October 2, Verlander intentionally walked Nick Markakis, which would be the last four-pitch intentional walk before a rule change was implemented for the following season.

2016: Verlander becomes a three-pitch pitcher

Since the 2016 season, Justin Verlander has essentially become a three-pitch pitcher (fastball, slider, curveball).

April 4, 2017: Opening Day Strikeout Record Tie

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, just two days after winning the World Series, Justin Verlander married model-actress Kate Upton in a medieval church in Tuscany, Italy.

2017: Playoff Berth with Verlander Start Since 2017 Trade

As of September 30, Justin Verlander clinched a postseason berth in a Verlander start for the fourth time since he was traded to the team in 2017.

2017: Verlander incorporates both sliders

In 2017, Justin Verlander began incorporating both slower, longer sliders under the hands of lefties, and the sharper, faster slider down and away to righties.

2017: Trade to Astros and World Series Win

In 2017, Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros before the trade deadline. He was named AL Championship Series MVP and co-won the Babe Ruth Award as the Astros won the 2017 World Series.

2017: "Wins For Warriors Foundation" raised $246,311 for Hurricane Harvey recovery

In 2017, the "Wins For Warriors Foundation" campaign raised $246,311 to help Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey.

March 5, 2018: Named Opening Day Starter

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

2018: Verlander's changeup usage drops

By 2018, Justin Verlander's changeup accounted for less than 2 percent of his pitches.

2018: 200 Career Wins

In 2018, Justin Verlander earned his 200th career win, becoming the 20th-fastest to reach this milestone.

2018: Recovery from Surgery in 2014

In 2018, Justin Verlander mentioned that he had not fully recovered from the core surgery he had in 2014, which he said contributed to production inferior to his career norms.

2018: Verlander is an American League strikeout champion

In 2018, Justin Verlander was an American League strikeout champion.

March 24, 2019: Signed Contract Extension

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

2019: Cy Young Award Voting Condition

In 2013, Justin Verlander's contract with the Tigers included a $22 million vesting option for the 2020 season if he finished in the top five in Cy Young Award voting in 2019.

2019: Third No-Hitter and 3,000 Strikeouts

In 2019, Justin Verlander became the sixth pitcher in MLB history to throw three career no-hitters and the 18th to strike out 3,000 batters.

2019: Second Cy Young Award

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

2019: Verlander leads league in innings pitched

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

July 24, 2020: Made 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: Vesting Option for 2020

In 2013, Justin Verlander's contract with the Tigers included a $22 million vesting option for the 2020 season, contingent on finishing in the top five in Cy Young Award voting in 2019.

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

On December 13, 2021, Justin Verlander signed a one-year contract with the Astros, which included an option for a second season, marking his return to the team.

April 9, 2022: Returned to Pitching Against Angels

On April 9, 2022, Justin Verlander made his return to pitching against the Los Angeles Angels, marking his first appearance since Opening Day 2020. He struck out seven and allowed one run over five innings in a 2-0 loss.

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

On August 23, 2022, Justin Verlander threw six hitless innings and struck out ten batters in a 4–2 win against the Minnesota Twins, passing Pedro Martínez on the all-time strikeout list and overtaking Max Scherzer as the active career leader in strikeouts.

December 7, 2022: Verlander Signs 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, matching the record for the highest average annual value (AAV) in MLB history.

2022: Verlander sets major league record in Game 1 of the 2022 ALCS

During Game 1 of the 2022 ALCS, Justin Verlander struck out eleven batters in six innings, setting a major league record for his eighth double-digit strikeout effort in the postseason.

2022: Verlander's 2022 Campaign Conclusion

In 2022, Justin Verlander concluded his season with an 18–4 record, a 1.75 ERA, and 185 strikeouts across 175 innings pitched, leading the Major Leagues in ERA, WHIP (0.829), and BAA (.186) and the American League in wins.

2022: Return and World Series Championship

In 2022, Justin Verlander returned to baseball, won 18 games with a sub-2.00 ERA, and led the Astros to their second World championship. He also received his third Cy Young Award that offseason.

August 1, 2023: Verlander traded back to the 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.

May 25, 2024: Verlander passes Greg Maddux on all-time strikeout list

On May 25, 2024, Justin Verlander struck out Abraham Toro for his 3,372nd career strikeout, surpassing Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list.