History of Justin Verlander in Timeline
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.
1905: Christy Mathewson's Scoreless Innings
From 1905 to 1911, Christy Mathewson recorded 28 scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Athletics, a record Verlander later surpassed with 30 consecutive scoreless innings against the Athletics.
1911: Christy Mathewson's Scoreless Innings
From 1905 to 1911, Christy Mathewson recorded 28 scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Athletics, a record Verlander later surpassed with 30 consecutive scoreless innings against the Athletics.
1924: Triple Crown Pitchers in Both Leagues
1924 was the first season featuring a Triple Crown pitcher in both leagues.
1965: Sandy Koufax's Postseason Games
In 1965, Sandy Koufax achieved ten or more strikeouts with no runs allowed in back-to-back postseason games, a feat Verlander later matched.
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.
1970: Mickey Lolich's Opening Day Strikeouts
In 1970, Mickey Lolich set a franchise record for the most strikeouts on Opening Day, a feat Verlander matched in 2017.
1971: Mickey Lolich's 308 Strikeouts
In 1971, Mickey Lolich recorded 308 strikeouts.
1973: AL Player of the Week Award Established
Since the AL Player of the Week award was established in 1973, Verlander became the fourth pitcher to win as many as 10 times.
February 20, 1983: Justin Verlander Born
On February 20, 1983, Justin Brooks Verlander was born. He is now considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
1991: Bill Gullickson Wins 20 Games
In 1991, Bill Gullickson won 20 games.
May 17, 2002: School Record 17 Strikeouts
On May 17, 2002, Justin Verlander struck out a then-school record 17 batters against James Madison.
2002: Teammates strikeout milestone
In 2002, Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole became the first teammates to strike out at least 250 batters in the same season since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.
2002: CAA Rookie of the Year
In 2002, Justin Verlander was named CAA Rookie of the Year.
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: Single Season Strikeout Record
In 2003, Justin Verlander set a school single-season record by recording 139 strikeouts.
October 25, 2004: Signed contract with Detroit Tigers
On October 25, 2004, Justin Verlander signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers.
2004: All-CAA Honors and ODU Athlete of the Year
In 2004, Justin Verlander earned All-CAA honors and was named the ODU Alumni Association's Male Athlete of the Year.
2004: CAA Strikeout Record
In 2004, Justin Verlander established a new Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record with 151 strikeouts.
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: Most Pitches Thrown Since Rookie Season in 2006
By 2015, Verlander had thrown more pitches than any other pitcher since his rookie season in 2006, totaling 32,535 pitches in the regular season and 1,688 in the postseason.
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: Led MLB in Losses
In 2008, Justin Verlander led MLB in losses with 17.
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.
2008: Shortest Outing Before August 11, 2014
Prior to August 11, 2014, Verlander's shortest outing was 1+1⁄3 innings, which occurred in 2008.
2008: Ability to Throw 100+ mph Late in Games
Since 2008, Verlander has thrown pitches of over 100+ mph in the 8th inning or later 44 times, 39 more times than James Paxton.
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: League Leader in Innings Pitched and Strikeout Champion
In 2009, Verlander led the league in innings pitched and became an American League strikeout champion.
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: Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Justin Verlander received multiple awards including the AL Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award and was named the cover athlete of Major League Baseball 2K12.
2011: AL Cy Young and MVP Awards
In 2011, Justin Verlander won both the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP Award, marking a historic achievement.
2011: Led AL in wins, strikeouts, and ERA
In 2011, Verlander had won the Triple Crown of pitching in the AL, leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA
2011: League Leader in Innings Pitched and Strikeout Champion
In 2011, Verlander led the league in innings pitched and became an American League strikeout champion.
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: Lost AL Cy Young Race
In 2012, Justin Verlander lost AL Cy Young race.
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: League Leader in Innings Pitched and Strikeout Champion
In 2012, Verlander led the league in innings pitched and became an American League strikeout champion.
2012: Parents' Book Published
In 2012, Verlander's parents, Richard and Kathy Verlander, published a book titled "Rocks Across the Pond: Lessons Learned, Stories Told," which outlines his life experiences and development.
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: Bob Feller Act of Valor Award
For his work with military veterans, Verlander was honored as one of the inaugural recipients of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award in 2013.
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.
January 9, 2014: Underwent Core Muscle Surgery
On January 9, 2014, Verlander underwent core muscle surgery. The Tigers initially feared he might miss Opening Day but he recovered in time for spring training in February.
February 2014: Reported to Training Camp after Surgery
In February 2014, Verlander reported to training camp, having recovered from core muscle surgery he had on January 9, 2014.
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: Struggled in the First Half of 2014
In 2014, Verlander experienced a decline in performance during the first half of the season, with reduced strikeouts and elevated ERA and WHIP. He was not selected for the AL All-Star team, ending a five-year streak.
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: Average Velocity in 2014
In 2014, Verlander's average velocity was 91.2 mph.
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).
2014: Started Dating Kate Upton
In early 2014, Verlander started dating model-actress Kate Upton.
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: Average Velocity in 2015
In 2015, Verlander's average velocity was 92.3 mph.
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: American League Strikeout Champion
In 2016, Verlander became an American League strikeout champion.
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: Engaged to Kate Upton
In 2016, Verlander got engaged to Kate Upton.
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.
November 4, 2017: Married Kate Upton
On November 4, 2017, two days after winning the World Series with the Astros, Verlander married Kate Upton in Italy.
2017: Astros Strikeout Record
In 2017, Justin Verlander and the Astros set a new Major League record for the most strikeouts by their starters in a season, breaking the record previously held by the Cleveland Indians.
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: Velocity Soared
In 2017, Verlander's velocity soared back up to an average of 95.3 mph.
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.
July 14, 2018: Pregnancy Announcement
On July 14, 2018, Verlander and Kate Upton announced they were expecting their first child.
2018: 200 Career Wins
In 2018, Justin Verlander earned his 200th career win, becoming the 20th-fastest to reach this milestone.
2018: American League Strikeout Champion
In 2018, Verlander became an American League strikeout champion.
2018: Reflection on 2014 Season
In 2018, Verlander reflected on the 2014 season, noting that he had not fully recovered from core surgery, which impacted his performance.
2018: Changeup Pitch Usage Decreased
In 2018, Verlander's changeup pitch was used less than 2% of the time.
November 12, 2019: Wins Second Cy Young Award
On November 12, 2019, Justin Verlander won his second Cy Young Award, receiving 171 points and 17 first-place votes, marking his first time winning the award as a Houston Astro.
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.
2019: Led the League in Innings Pitched
In 2019, Verlander led the league in innings pitched.
2019: Cy Young Award Consideration
In 2019, Verlander's performance was tied to a vesting option in his contract, based on finishing in the top five in Cy Young Award voting.
March 17, 2020: Undergoes Groin Surgery
On March 17, 2020, Justin Verlander underwent surgery on his right groin, requiring a six-week recovery period. This occurred around the time the baseball season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
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.
September 30, 2020: Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
On September 30, 2020, Justin Verlander underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2020 season and all of the 2021 season.
2020: Arm Injury and Tommy John Surgery
In 2020, Justin Verlander suffered an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for two seasons.
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.
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 his recovery from Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2021 season.
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: Sidelined Due to Injury
In 2021, Justin Verlander was sidelined due to recovery from Tommy John Surgery.
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.
August 23, 2022: Passes Martinez 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 Scherzer again as the active career leader in strikeouts.
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.
2024: Ranks 10th All-Time in Career Strikeouts
Through the 2024 season, Justin Verlander ranks 10th all-time in career strikeouts.
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: As of 2025
As of 2025, Verlander remains the most recent pitcher to have pitched 250 innings in one season.
2025: Contract Option for 2025
In 2022, Justin Verlander's contract with the New York Mets included a $35 million vesting option for 2025.
