Challenges in the Life of Justin Verlander in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Justin Verlander faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

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

2008: Led MLB in Losses

In 2008, Justin Verlander led MLB in losses with 17, finishing the season with an 11-17 win-loss record and a 4.84 ERA.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

2014: Reduced Fastball Velocity

In 2014, Justin Verlander's fastball velocity averaged 91.2 mph. This was a decrease compared to later seasons and was noted as part of a period where his performance was affected by injuries.

2014: Started Dating Kate Upton and iCloud leaks

In early 2014, Justin Verlander began dating model-actress Kate Upton. Also in 2014, personal photos, including nude pictures of Verlander, Upton, and other women, were leaked online in the iCloud leaks.

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.

2015: Continued Velocity Concerns

In 2015, Justin Verlander's fastball velocity averaged 92.3 mph, continuing concerns about his pitching strength following injury-riddled seasons.

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.

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.

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.

March 17, 2020: Groin Surgery

On March 17, 2020, Justin Verlander underwent surgery on his right groin, requiring six weeks to recover. This occurred around the same time that the MLB season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 26, 2020: Shut Down with Forearm Strain

On July 26, 2020, it was reported that Justin Verlander would be shut down due to a forearm strain, raising concerns about his ability to continue pitching in the season.

September 30, 2020: Tommy John Surgery

On September 30, 2020, Justin Verlander underwent Tommy John surgery. As a result, he missed the remainder of the 2020 season and all of the 2021 season, keeping him sidelined through the end of his contract extension with the Astros.

2020: Last Game Played

In 2020, Justin Verlander last played on Opening Day before being sidelined due to injury.

2020: Arm Injury

In 2020, Justin Verlander suffered an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

February 27, 2021: Placed on 60-Day Injured List

On February 27, 2021, Justin Verlander was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Astros as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2021 season.

2021: Sidelined Through Contract Extension

Due to Tommy John surgery, Justin Verlander was sidelined for the entire 2021 season, which kept him out through the end of his contract extension with the Astros.