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. Widely regarded as one of baseball's all-time greats, he previously played for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Verlander's distinguished career includes three Cy Young Awards and an American League MVP Award, solidifying his place as an iconic figure in the sport.

Sections (5)

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

May 17, 2002: Struck Out a Then-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: School Single-Season Record with 139 Strikeouts

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

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: CAA Record with 151 Strikeouts

In 2004, Justin Verlander broke his own record and established a new Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record with 151 strikeouts while playing for Old Dominion University.

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, going 0–2 with a 7.15 ERA in his only two starts of the season.

2005: MLB Debut with Tigers

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

2005: Professional Debut

In 2005, Justin Verlander made his professional debut, playing for the Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A) and the Erie SeaWolves (Double-A).

2005: First Mud Hens Appearance

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

July 4, 2006: Three Tigers Pitchers Throw 100+ mph Fastballs

On July 4, 2006, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Fernando Rodney each threw multiple fastballs over 100 mph during a game against Oakland, marking the first time in MLB history that three pitchers on the same team had done so.

2007: Continued Success in 2007

In 2007, Justin Verlander accumulated 18 wins, posting a 3.66 ERA with 183 strikeouts in 201+2⁄3 innings. On June 12, Verlander recorded a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out twelve and walking four.

2007: First No-Hitter at Comerica Park

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

July 24, 2009: Escaped Bases-Loaded, No-Outs 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 a 19–9 record, an ERA of 3.45 and an MLB-leading 269 strikeouts and 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 finished the season with an 18–9 record and a 3.37 ERA while fanning 219 batters in 224+1⁄3 innings.

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: Verlander's MVP campaign

In 2011, Justin Verlander had an MVP campaign. He would later win his first ERA title since then in 2022.

2011: Most Successful Season

In 2011, Justin Verlander produced his most successful season, including his second career no-hitter versus the Toronto Blue Jays, 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: Won Triple Crown of Pitching

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

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 in a 6–0 victory, recording his first career complete-game one-hitter.

2012: ALCS Game 3 Win

In 2012, Justin Verlander made his only appearance in the ALCS in Game 3 against the New York Yankees, earning a 2–1 win. He held the Yankees scoreless through eight innings, allowing only two hits, before giving up a leadoff home run in the ninth to Eduardo Núñez. Between the first inning of Game 1 in the ALDS and the ninth inning of Game 3 in the ALCS, Verlander recorded 24 consecutive scoreless postseason innings.

2012: All-Star Game Appearance 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 with a 2.58 ERA, leading the AL in innings pitched (132+2⁄3), strikeouts (128), and complete games (five). During the All-Star game, he pitched one inning and allowed five runs. He finished the regular season with a 17–8 record, ranking first in the AL in innings pitched (238+1⁄3), strikeouts (239), and complete games (six), and second in ERA (2.64).

2013: ALDS Games 2 and 5 Performances

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, he pitched eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts in a 3–0 victory, carrying a no-hitter into the 7th inning. This win sent the Tigers to the American League Championship Series for the third consecutive year.

2013: Bob Feller Act of Valor Award

In 2013, Justin Verlander was recognized as one of the first recipients of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award for his contributions to military veterans.

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. This was his sixth All-Star selection. However, due to starting a game on July 14 for the Tigers, he was unavailable for the July 16 All-Star game. Entering the All-Star break, he had a 10–6 record, 125 strikeouts, and a 3.50 ERA.

2013: ALCS Elimination and Postseason Stats

In 2013, the Boston Red Sox eliminated the Tigers in six ALCS games. During the 2013 postseason, Justin Verlander had a 1–1 record with a 0.39 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. In two of his starts, the Tigers did not score any runs.

2013: 2013 Season Performance

Justin Verlander finished the 2013 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: Contract Extension with the Tigers

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

2014: Second Half Improvement

In the second half of 2014, Justin Verlander's season ERA and WHIP improved to 4.54 and 1.398, respectively. He finished with a 15–12 record, winning his final three decisions, and the Tigers won 6 of his last 8 starts. However, his strikeout rate remained low, finishing with 159 strikeouts and a 6.9 K/9 IP rate, both the lowest since his 2006 rookie season.

2015: Near No-Hitter and Season Stats

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 over the Los Angeles Angels. He ended the season with a 5–8 record in 20 starts, but his stats showed improvement with a 3.38 ERA and 1.088 WHIP.

2016: Strikeout Milestones and All-Star Break

In 2016, Justin Verlander achieved significant strikeout milestones, surpassing Jack Morris for second place on the Tigers' all-time strikeout list on May 8 with his 1,981st strikeout. On May 18, he recorded his 2,000th career strikeout. By the All-Star break, Verlander had an 8–6 record, a 4.07 ERA, and 120 strikeouts.

2016: Season Achievements

Justin Verlander finished the 2016 season with a 16–9 record and led the American League with 254 strikeouts, marking the fourth time in his career he achieved this. He also led 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, and his 4.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best and a Tiger record.

2016: AL Pitcher of the Month for July

Justin Verlander was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July 2016. During that month, he had a 4-0 record, a 1.69 ERA, and 48 strikeouts in 42+2⁄3 innings, holding opposing hitters to a .171 average.

April 4, 2017: Franchise Record for Strikeouts on Opening Day

On April 4, 2017, Justin Verlander tied a franchise record for the most strikeouts on Opening Day with ten.

June 23, 2017: Ben Verlander released by Tigers

On June 23, 2017, Justin Verlander's younger brother, Ben, was released from the Tigers organization, where he played as an outfielder. He then transitioned to working as a sportswriter and analyst.

2017: Traded to Astros and World Series Win

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

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. This marked his 10th career opening day start and his first with the Astros.

2018: 200 Career Wins

In 2018, Justin Verlander became the 114th pitcher in major league history to earn 200 career wins, also becoming the 20th-fastest to reach the milestone (427 starts).

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: First 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 leading the Astros to their second pennant in three seasons.

2019: Contract Vesting Option

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

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 was the Astros' eighth straight win on Opening Day.

2020: Contract Vesting Option

In 2020, Justin Verlander had a $22 million vesting option in his contract, dependent on his Cy Young Award voting performance in 2019.

December 13, 2021: Verlander signs one-year contract with Astros

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

April 9, 2022: Verlander Returns to the Mound

On April 9, 2022, Justin Verlander made his return to the mound against the Los Angeles Angels, marking his first appearance since Opening Day 2020. In the game, Verlander struck out seven and allowed one run over five innings.

August 23, 2022: Verlander passes Pedro Martínez on 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. In doing so, Verlander passed Pedro Martínez on the all-time strikeout list and overtook Max Scherzer again 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 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 the highest average annual value (AAV) in MLB history.

2022: Verlander's performance in the 2022 ALCS and World Series

During the 2022 ALCS, Justin Verlander struck out eleven over six innings in Game 1, setting a major league record for his eighth double-digit strikeout effort in the postseason. He then secured his first career World Series win in Game 5 against the Phillies, contributing to the Astros' victory in six games and earning his second World Series ring.

2022: Verlander Concludes 2022 Season

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

May 4, 2023: Verlander activated from injured list, debuts for Mets

On May 4, 2023, Justin Verlander was activated from the injured list by the Mets, making his debut for the team against his former team, the Detroit Tigers.

May 10, 2023: Verlander defeats all 30 teams

On May 10, 2023, Justin Verlander struck out seven hitters over seven innings in a 2–1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the 21st Major League pitcher to defeat all 30 teams.

July 30, 2023: Verlander earns his 250th major league win

On July 30, 2023, Justin Verlander achieved his 250th major league win, becoming the 49th pitcher to do so, in the Mets' 5–2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

August 1, 2023: Verlander traded back to the Astros

On August 1, 2023, Justin Verlander was traded by the Mets back to the Astros for outfield prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford, along with cash considerations.

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

On May 25, 2024, Justin Verlander passed Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list, reaching 3,372 career strikeouts during a 6–3 victory over the Oakland Athletics. This victory also marked his 260th career win, the most of any pitcher who debuted in the 21st century.

August 21, 2024: Verlander returns from injured list

On August 21, 2024, Justin Verlander returned from the injured list at home in a game against the Boston Red Sox which the Astros lost 4-1. Verlander allowed two runs over five innings and struck out six.

2024: Verlander starts 2024 on injured list, debuts in April

Justin Verlander began the 2024 season on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation. He made his debut on April 19, 2024, helping the Astros win against the Washington Nationals and passing Phil Niekro for 12th on the all-time strikeout list.