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 is widely regarded as one of baseball's greatest pitchers, having previously played for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Verlander's accomplishments include three Cy Young Awards and an American League MVP Award.
1968: Eclipsed McLain's Strikeout to Walk Ratio
In 2016, 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.
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.
October 25, 2004: Signed contract with Detroit Tigers
On October 25, 2004, Justin Verlander signed a contract with 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, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career.
July 4, 2005: MLB Debut
On July 4, 2005, Justin Verlander made his MLB debut.
2005: MLB Debut
In 2005, Justin Verlander made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers, launching his MLB career.
2005: Went Straight From Double-A to Major Leagues
In 2005, Justin Verlander went directly from Double-A to the major leagues, without pitching for the Toledo Mud Hens.
July 4, 2006: Three Pitchers over 100 mph
On July 4, 2006, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Fernando Rodney each threw multiple fastballs over 100 mph, a first in MLB history.
2006: AL Pennant
In 2006, Justin Verlander was a key figure as the Detroit Tigers won the American League Pennant.
2006: AL Rookie of the Year
In 2006, Justin Verlander was named AL Rookie of the Year.
2006: Lowest Strikeout Rate Since 2006
In 2014, Verlander's strikeout rate was 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 versus the Milwaukee Brewers.
2007: No-Hitter Against Brewers
In 2007, Justin Verlander recorded a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out twelve.
2008: Lowest Innings Pitched Since 2008
In 2013, Justin Verlander's 218+1⁄3 innings pitched were his lowest since the 2008 season.
2008: End of All-Star Streak Since 2008
In 2014, Verlander was not named to the AL All-Star team for the first time since 2008, snapping a streak of five straight appearances.
July 24, 2009: Escaped Loaded Bases
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 led MLB with 269 strikeouts.
2009: AL Wins and Strikeout Leader
In 2009, Justin Verlander led the AL in both wins and strikeouts for the first time in his career.
2009: Second-Best Strikeout Rate of His Career
In 2016, 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.
2010: Contract Extension
In 2010, Justin Verlander and the Tigers reached a deal for a five-year, $80 million contract extension.
April 22, 2011: 1,000th Career Strikeout
On April 22, 2011, Justin Verlander recorded his 1,000th career strikeout, becoming the 15th Tiger to reach that milestone.
2011: Pitching Triple Crown, Cy Young, and MVP Awards
In 2011, Justin Verlander had his most successful season, winning the Pitching Triple Crown, the AL Cy Young Award, the AL MVP Award, and the Sporting News Player of the Year Award.
2011: AL Central Division Championship
Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Tigers winning an AL Central division championship in 2011.
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 his first career complete-game one-hitter.
2012: ALDS Game 5 Complete-Game Shutout
In 2012 ALDS Game 5 against the Oakland Athletics, Justin Verlander pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only four hits and striking out 11, advancing the Tigers to the ALCS.
2012: Pitched Game 1 of the World Series
In 2012, Justin Verlander pitched Game 1 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants, allowing five earned runs in four innings, including two home runs to Pablo Sandoval, as the Tigers were swept in the Series.
2012: All-Star Selection
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 was leading the AL in innings pitched, strikeouts, and complete games.
2012: Appearance in the ALCS Game 3
In 2012, Verlander appeared in Game 3 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees, securing a 2–1 victory. He pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing only two hits before conceding a leadoff home run in the ninth inning.
2012: AL Pennant
Justin Verlander was a key figure as the Detroit Tigers won the American League Pennant in 2012.
2013: 2013 ALCS Game 3
During Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS, Justin Verlander achieved a postseason record-tying six consecutive strikeouts.
2013: Selected for American League All-Star Team
In 2013, Jim Leyland, the manager of the American League All-Star team, selected Verlander as a reserve pitcher for the team. However, due to starting a game on July 14, Verlander was unavailable for the July 16 All-Star game.
2013: Finished the 2013 Regular Season
In 2013, Justin Verlander concluded the regular season with a 13–12 record, a 3.46 ERA, and 217 strikeouts.
2013: Signed Contract with Tigers
In 2013, Verlander and the Tigers agreed to a seven-year, $180 million contract, including a $22 million vesting option for 2020 based on his 2019 Cy Young Award voting, making him MLB's highest-paid pitcher.
2013: ALCS Game 3 against Boston Red Sox
In 2013, during Game 3 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, Verlander pitched 6+1⁄3 scoreless innings before allowing a solo home run. Despite ten strikeouts in eight innings, he lost a 1–0 decision. This marked his sixth career postseason game with ten or more strikeouts.
2013: Tigers Eliminated in ALCS
In 2013, the Red Sox, who eventually won the World Series, eliminated the Tigers in six ALCS games. Verlander's postseason performance included a 1–1 record, a 0.39 ERA, and 31 strikeouts in 23 innings.
2013: Triple Digits on Radar Gun
In 2017, Verlander hit triple digits on the radar gun for the first time since his 2013 season.
2014: AL Central Division Championship
In 2014, Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Tigers winning their fourth consecutive AL Central division championship.
2014: Improved Performance in Second Half of 2014
In 2014, Verlander improved in the second half of the season, lowering his ERA and WHIP. He finished with a 15-12 record, although his strikeout rate remained low.
2014: Comparison of Fastball Velocity
In 2017, Verlander's fastball velocity soared back up to an average of 95.3 in his 2017 campaign, four miles per hour faster than his average in 2014 (91.2).
2015: Started Season on Disabled List
In 2015, Verlander began the season on the disabled list due to a right triceps strain, ending his streak of seven consecutive Opening Day starts for the Tigers.
2015: Comparison of Fastball Velocity
In 2017, Verlander's fastball velocity soared back up to an average of 95.3 in his 2017 campaign, three miles per hour faster than his average in 2015 (92.3).
2015: Near No-Hitter Against Angels
On August 26, 2015, Verlander came within three outs of his third career no-hitter before allowing a double. He finished with a one-hit shutout. He concluded 2015 with a 5-8 record, improved ERA, and WHIP.
2016: Finished Season Leading AL in Strikeouts
In 2016, Verlander finished the season with a 16–9 record, leading the American League with 254 strikeouts. His WHIP was 1.00, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best.
2016: Wins For Warriors Foundation Started
In 2016, Verlander started the "Wins For Warriors Foundation" for veterans of the United States Military.
2016: Named AL Pitcher of the Month for July
In July 2016, Verlander was named the American League Pitcher of the Month, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.69 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He was also the last pitcher to issue a four-pitch intentional walk on October 2.
2016: Surpassed Jack Morris on Tiger Strikeout List
On May 8, 2016, Verlander recorded his 1,981st strikeout as a Tiger, surpassing Jack Morris to become second on the team's all-time strikeout list. On May 18, he achieved his 2,000th career strikeout.
2016: Three-Pitch Pitcher
Since the 2016 season, Verlander has essentially become a three-pitch pitcher (fastball, slider, curveball).
April 4, 2017: Tied Franchise Record on Opening Day
On April 4, 2017, Verlander tied a franchise record for the most strikeouts on Opening Day with ten. He became the first Tigers player to do so since Mickey Lolich in 1970.
June 23, 2017: Brother's Release and New Career
On June 23, 2017, Verlander's younger brother, Ben, was released from the Tigers organization and transitioned to a career as a sportswriter and analyst.
2017: Traded to Astros and World Series Win
In 2017, Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros, where he was named AL Championship Series MVP and co-winner of the Babe Ruth Award as the Astros won the World Series.
2017: Evolution of Slider Pitches
In 2017, Verlander began to incorporate both slower, longer sliders and sharper, faster sliders into his pitching style, leading to greater success against both left-handed and right-handed batters.
2017: Named Co-MVP of 2017 Postseason
In 2017, Verlander made six postseason appearances, earning a 4–1 record, a 2.21 ERA, and 38 strikeouts. He was named co-MVP of the postseason along with Jose Altuve.
2017: Increased Fastball Velocity
In 2017, Verlander's fastball velocity rebounded to an average of 95.3 mph, marking a significant increase from previous seasons and hitting triple digits for the first time since 2013.
2017: Traded to the Houston Astros
In 2017, just before the waiver trade deadline on August 31, the Tigers traded Verlander to the Houston Astros. He won all five of his regular season starts with Houston, posting a 1.06 ERA.
2017: "Wins For Warriors Foundation" Helped Houston
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 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 the team.
2018: 200 Career Wins
In 2018, Justin Verlander earned his 200th career win, becoming the 20th-fastest to reach this milestone.
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: Third No-Hitter and 3,000 Strikeouts
In 2019, Justin Verlander threw his third career no-hitter and reached 3,000 career strikeouts, reaching two major milestones.
July 24, 2020: 12th Career Opening Day Start
On July 24, 2020, Justin Verlander made his 12th career opening day start, securing the win with seven strikeouts and two runs allowed in six innings, extending the Astros' Opening Day win streak to eight years.
2020: Contract Vesting Option
In 2020, Justin Verlander's contract included a $22 million vesting option dependent on his performance in the 2019 Cy Young Award voting.
December 13, 2021: Signs with Astros
On December 13, 2021, Justin Verlander signed a one-year contract with the Astros, which included an option for a second season.
2021: Matching Scherzer's AAV Record
In 2022, Justin Verlander's contract matched the record for highest AAV in MLB history with teammate Max Scherzer's contract signed during the 2021 offseason.
April 9, 2022: Returns to the Mound
On April 9, 2022, Justin Verlander made his return to the mound against the Los Angeles Angels, his first appearance since Opening Day 2020, striking out seven and allowing one run in five innings.
December 7, 2022: Signed with the New York Mets
On December 7, 2022, Justin Verlander signed a 2-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 average annual value (AAV) in MLB history.
2022: Return, World Series Win, and Third Cy Young
In 2022, Justin Verlander returned to baseball, won 18 games with a sub-2.00 ERA, led the Astros to their second World Championship, and received his third Cy Young Award.
2022: 2022 ALCS Game 1 and World Series Performances
In 2022, during Game 1 of the ALCS, Verlander achieved a major league record with his eighth double-digit strikeout performance in the postseason. He also allowed five earned runs in Game 1 of the 2022 World Series. Later, he secured his first World Series win in Game 5, contributing to the Astros' victory and their subsequent World Series title.
May 4, 2023: Mets Debut
On May 4, 2023, Verlander was activated from the injured list and made his 2023 debut against the Detroit Tigers.
May 10, 2023: Defeated All 30 Teams
On May 10, 2023, Verlander struck out seven hitters over seven innings in a victory against the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the 21st Major League pitcher to defeat all 30 teams.
July 30, 2023: 250th Career Win
On July 30, 2023, Verlander earned his 250th major league win in the Mets' victory over the Washington Nationals, becoming the 49th pitcher to reach this milestone.
August 1, 2023: Traded Back to the Astros
On August 1, 2023, the Mets traded Verlander back to the Astros.
2023: Declined World Baseball Classic Invitation
In 2023, Verlander declined an invitation to join the United States national team at the World Baseball Classic, citing his recent recovery from Tommy John surgery and World Series campaign.
May 25, 2024: Passing Maddux on Strikeout List
On May 25, 2024, Verlander passed Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list, achieving his 3,372nd career strikeout. The victory was also the 260th of Verlander's career, the most of any pitcher who debuted in the 21st century.
August 21, 2024: Return from Injured List
On August 21, 2024, Verlander returned from the injured list at home, in a loss to the Boston Red Sox.
2024: 2024 Season Debut
Justin Verlander started the 2024 season on the injured list and made his season debut on April 19, 2024. In the game, he passed Phil Niekro for 12th on the all-time strikeout list with his 3,343rd career strikeout.
January 11, 2025: Signed with the San Francisco Giants
On January 11, 2025, Verlander signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants.
2025: Contract Option for 2025
In 2022, Justin Verlander's contract with the New York Mets included a $35 million vesting option for 2025.
