Justin Verlander Announces Retirement at Season's End
WHO:
MLB.com - Justin Verlander is currently on the 60-day injured list due to hip and hamstring injuries.
TMZ - Justin Verlander, a legendary pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
MLB.com - Rob Manfred, Commissioner of MLB; Bryce Harper, Phillies slugger; Miguel Cabrera, former Tigers teammate.
MLB.com - Jason Beck, Senior Reporter covering the Tigers.
MLB Trade Rumors - Justin Verlander, born in Manakin Sabot, Virginia in 1983; attended Old Dominion University.
WHAT:
MLB.com - Verlander is the second Tiger to earn a Legend Pick for the All-Star Game, following Miguel Cabrera, who was selected in 2022.
MLB.com - Verlander stated, "Dealing with this injury has been way more difficult than anticipated."
MLB.com - Verlander mentioned, "My body is just sending signals that it's just not quite capable."
MLB.com - Verlander expressed, "This isn't me just saying goodbye and just sitting on the bench the rest of the year."
Fox News - Justin Verlander announced he will retire after the 2026 season, marking the end of his 22-year career in Major League Baseball.
MLB.com - Verlander stated, "Over the last several months, I've realized that time has come. While I'm fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I've decided this will be my last."
MLB Trade Rumors - Verlander has 3,554 strikeouts, ranking eighth on the all-time list, and is just 21 strikeouts away from passing Don Sutton for seventh place.
MLB.com - Verlander is the second Tiger to earn a Legend Pick for the All-Star Game, following Miguel Cabrera, who was selected in 2022.
MLB.com - Verlander stated, "It's fitting that I get to finish where it all started -- with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity."
MLB Trade Rumors - Verlander has thrown 3,571 1/3 innings over 556 games with a 3.33 ERA and has 266 wins to 159 losses.
MLB.com - Verlander was selected as a "Legend Pick" for the 2026 All-Star Game, marking his 10th All-Star selection.
MLB.com - Verlander will attend the All-Star Game in a Tigers uniform for the first time since 2013.
TMZ - Justin Verlander announced his retirement at the end of the 2026 season.
MLB.com - Verlander was named to his 10th All-Star Game as a Legend Pick.
MLB.com - Verlander has 3,554 strikeouts, ranking eighth in MLB history; 266 wins, ranking 37th; and an 82.3 bWAR, ranking 24th among pitchers.
MLB.com - Verlander is one of six pitchers in history to throw three no-hitters.
MLB Trade Rumors - Verlander has a career ERA of 3.33 and has thrown 3,571 1/3 innings over 556 games.
WHERE:
TMZ - Verlander will retire in the city where his career started, Detroit.
MLB.com - The 2026 All-Star Game will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and later at Comerica Park in Detroit.
WHEN:
MLB.com - The 2026 All-Star Game is scheduled for July 14 at 8 p.m. ET.
MLB Trade Rumors - Verlander was drafted second overall in the 2004 MLB Draft.
WHY:
MLB.com - Verlander stated, "This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally."
MLB.com - Verlander stated, "I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar. I wanted the game to tell me when it was time."
MLB Trade Rumors - Verlander mentioned that this season has challenged him both physically and mentally.
HOW:
MLB.com - Verlander has been on the 60-day injured list due to hip and hamstring injuries, which have prevented him from pitching at Comerica Park again.
MLB.com - Verlander plans to finish the season committed to giving his team everything he has left, despite his injuries.
MLB.com - Verlander plans to finish the season committed to giving his team everything he has left, despite his injuries.
MLB.com - Verlander plans to finish the season committed to giving his team everything he has left.
Justin Verlander has been selected as a Legend Pick for the All-Star Game, making him the second Tiger to receive this honor after Miguel Cabrera in 2022. Despite being on the 60-day injured list due to hip and hamstring injuries, Verlander emphasized that he is not ready to give up, stating, "This isn't me just saying goodbye and just sitting on the bench the rest of the year." He also acknowledged the challenges of his recovery, saying, "Dealing with this injury has been way more difficult than anticipated," and noted that his body is sending signals that it’s just not quite capable.