Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander is a decorated right-hander and one of the most durable and dominant pitchers of his era, a 3-time Cy Young winner.

Justin Brooks Verlander was born on February 20, 1983, in Manakin Sabot, Virginia, and played college baseball at Old Dominion University, where he set the program's and the Colonial Athletic Association's career strikeout records. The Detroit Tigers drafted him second overall in 2004, and he debuted in 2005, quickly developing into one of the most dominant power pitchers in the sport, winning American League Rookie of the Year that same season. Verlander won the American League MVP and Cy Young Award in 2011, a rare pitcher's double, after leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. He threw two no-hitters for Detroit and later added a third with the Houston Astros, whom he joined via a dramatic trade-deadline deal in 2017 that helped Houston win the World Series that season. Verlander has won three career Cy Young Awards and a second World Series title with Houston in 2022, cementing his standing as one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. He later pitched for the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants before returning to Detroit, the organization where his career began, in 2026. As of 2025, Verlander stood as MLB's active leader in career wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, and remains the oldest active player in the major leagues, continuing to compete at an elite level well into his forties.

Power pitcher with high velocity fastball

Future Hall of Fame pitcher, multiple Cy Young winner

• 3x Cy Young
• AL MVP 2011
• AL Rookie of the Year 2006
• 9x All-Star
• 2x World Series champion
• 2011 pitching Triple Crown
• 3 no-hitters