MLBSep 26
Justin Verlander’s Final Start Ends With Family Embrace in Detroit
The Tigers right-hander closed his major league career with an emotional mound farewell, surrounded by his daughter, teammates and a standing Comerica Park crowd.
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A family farewell on the mound
Justin Verlander’s last major league outing ended with tears and an embrace from his daughter during Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Detroit. After Brandon Lowe opened the sixth inning with a foul popup, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch emerged from the dugout and signaled toward the stands. Genevieve Verlander, wearing a Tigers jersey bearing her father’s name and number, ran onto the field to hug him. Verlander bent down to meet his daughter and began sobbing. Hinch and the pitcher’s teammates then joined the farewell at the mound before the right-hander walked away holding Genevieve’s hand as fans stood and applauded. His wife, Kate Upton, met them near the dugout with their son, Bellamy. Verlander shared another family embrace, greeted teammates and tipped his cap before leaving the field.
A final outing after an interrupted season
Verlander surrendered two runs on five hits across 5⅓ innings, walking one and striking out six while throwing 91 pitches. Solo home runs from Lowe in the fourth and Nick Gonzales in the fifth accounted for Pittsburgh’s scoring against him. The appearance was his second start of the season and his first since March 30, following hip soreness and a hamstring injury. Tyler Kinley took over after the extended farewell.
An accomplished career closes
The 43-year-old exits after 21 major league seasons with three Cy Young Awards and 10 All-Star selections. His final career totals include a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts, placing him eighth on the all-time strikeout list. Before the opening inning, his teammates remained in the dugout so Verlander could take the field alone for the crowd’s salute.
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