Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander
Verlander warming up before a game
Detroit Tigers – No. 35
Starting pitcher
Born: (1983-02-20) February 20, 1983 Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
July 4, 2005, for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
Win–Loss record	107–57
Earned run average	3.54
Strikeouts	1,215
Teams
Detroit Tigers (2005–present)
Career highlights and awards
4× All-Star (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011) AL Rookie of the Year (2006) Pitched a no-hitter on June 12, 2007. Pitched a no-hitter on May 7, 2011. Led AL in strikeouts (269), innings pitched (240), and tied in wins (19) in 2009. Won AL pitching Triple Crown in 2011.

Justin Verlander

Medal record
Baseball
Representing United States
Pan American Games
	Santo Domingo 2003	Baseball at the 2003 Pan American Games

Justin Brooks Verlander (born February 20, 1983) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.

In 2006, he was named the American League Rookie of the Year. On June 12, 2007, he pitched a no-hitter—the first ever at Comerica Park—against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 12 batters and walking four. He pitched a second no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 7, 2011, in Toronto, walking one and facing the minimum 27 batters.

Playing career

Amateur career

His father Richard, who was president of the local Richmond, Virginia chapter of the Communications Workers of America, told him to play baseball. Richard gave up catching Justin's ball because of the velocity, and sent Justin to The Richmond Baseball Academy. Justin clocked 84 mph shortly after joining the academy. The velocity kept getting faster and it passed 93 when he entered Goochland High School. He had been a top pitching prospect in high school, but his career suffered a setback when he came down with strep throat early in his senior season of baseball. A weakened Verlander topped out at 86 during that season, causing professional scouts to lose interest. After he recovered, his velocity reached 100 during his first year at Old Dominion.

Verlander, a 6' 5", 200 pound (1.96 m, 91 kg) right-hander, pitched for the Old Dominion University baseball team for three years. On May 17, 2002, he struck out a then school record 17 batters against James Madison. In 2003, he set a school single-season record by recording 139 strikeouts; in 2004, he broke his own record and established a new Colonial Athletic Association record with 151 strikeouts. Verlander completed his career as the all-time strikeout leader in Old Dominion, the Colonial Athletic Association and the Commonwealth of Virginia (Division I) history with 427 in 335⅔ innings. During his three years, he averaged 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, and his career collegiate earned run average was 2.57.

Verlander pitched for Team USA in 2003 and helped the USA to a silver medal in the Pan Am Games. He was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2002 and earned All-CAA honors in 2003 and 2004. Verlander was named the ODU Alumni Association's Male Athlete of the Year in 2004, and was the second overall pick in the 2004 Baseball draft by Detroit.

Minor leagues

Verlander's professional baseball career began when the Detroit Tigers selected him second overall in the 2004 MLB Draft. After lengthy negotiations, he signed a contract on October 25, 2004. Verlander started the 2005 season for the Lakeland Tigers, where he showed surprisingly good control. He was rewarded with a brief appearance in the majors, making his first major league start against the Cleveland Indians on July 4, 2005. After two starts in the majors, he returned to the minor leagues pitching for the Erie SeaWolves, the AA affiliate of the Tigers.

Major leagues

2006

Verlander and his teammates celebrate after the final out of his first no-hitter.

In his first full season, Verlander went 17–9 with a 3.63 ERA, striking out 124 batters in 186 innings. He received the Rookie of the Year award. On July 4, 2006, at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California, Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Fernando Rodney each threw multiple fastballs clocked in at over 100 mph, becoming the first time in MLB history that three pitchers, on the same team, had done so during a game. He allowed only one stolen base in 2006 and picked off 7 baserunners. In 2006, he became the first rookie pitcher in the history of the game to win 10 games before the end of June, which eventually led to him being named Rookie of the Year at the end of the 2006 season. During Game 1 of the 2006 World Series, Verlander was the Tiger's starting pitcher against Anthony Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals; the first time two rookies faced off to start a World Series.

2007

His success continued in 2007, as he accumulated 18 wins and posted a 3.66 ERA with 183 strikeouts 201⅔ innings. On June 12, Verlander recorded a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 12 and hitting 102 MPH on the radar gun.

2008

Verlander at The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas), June 2009

In 2008, he started off poorly with 4 straight losses before winning his first game. He could not match his 2007 success and finished with a career low 11 wins, while posting career highs in losses (17) and ERA (4.84).

2009

His 2009 season proved successful. He finished with a 19–9 record with an ERA of 3.45 and an MLB-leading 269 strikeouts. Verlander finished 3rd in the 2009 AL Cy Young Award voting.

2010

On February 4, 2010, it was announced that Verlander and the Tigers had reached a deal for an $80 million, 5 year contract extension. On July 3, Verlander earned his 10th win of the season. This marked the fourth time in five years he has had double digit wins before the all-star break. On September 18 Verlander beat the Chicago White Sox, throwing a complete game to earn his 17th win of the season. With that win he became the first pitcher to win 17 games in 4 of his first 5 seasons since Dwight Gooden. He would finish 2010 with an 18–9 record and 3.37 ERA.

2011

Verlander at Dodger Stadium, June 2011

On April 22, Verlander recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in a 9–3 win over the White Sox, becoming the 15th Tiger to do so. On May 7 he recorded his second career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays, throwing four strikeouts, walking one batter and throwing at a maximum speed of 101 MPH on the radar gun. He carried a perfect game into the 8th inning before surrendering a walk to J. P. Arencibia. Verlander became the second Tigers pitcher since Virgil Trucks, and the thirtieth pitcher in the history of baseball, to throw multiple no-hitters. On his next start, against the Kansas City Royals on May 13, Verlander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering a triple. Altogether, he pitched 15⅔ consecutive no-hit innings, spread over three starts.

On June 14, Verlander took a no-hitter into the eighth. He pitched 7⅓ innings until he gave up a base hit to Cleveland's Orlando Cabrera. Verlander ended up with a complete game shutout allowing two hits. In his next start on June 19, he threw another complete game allowing a solo home run to Ty Wigginton On June 25, he recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts against Arizona. On July 3, 2011, Verlander was selected to his fourth AL All-Star team, but he was unable to participate in the game due to the scheduling of his starts. On July 31, 2011, Verlander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before surrendering a single to Maicer Izturis. He walked two and struck out nine. On August 11, Justin won his 100th major league game against the Cleveland Indians. On August 27, he became the first pitcher in the major leagues to attain 20 wins in the current season. The victory also made Verlander the first Tiger since Bill Gullickson in 1991 to win 20 games, and the first major leaguer since Curt Schilling in 2002 to reach 20 wins before the end of August. Verlander led the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw clinched the NL Triple Crown earlier in the week, making it the first since 1924 to feature Triple Crown winning pitchers in both leagues.

Repertoire

He features two fastballs: a four-seamer in the high-90s (which routinely pushes and occasionally eclipses 100 MPH) and a two-seamer in the mid-90s with good swing-back movement. He also throws a 12-6 curveball in the 78–83 mph range, a circle changeup in the low to mid-80s, and a slider which he throws 83–89 mph.

Awards and accolades

• 2006 American League Rookie of the Year
• 2006 Tigers Rookie of the Year award from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association
• American League Rookie of the Month (May, 2006)
• American League Player of the Week (May 22–28, 2006)
• American League Player of the Week (June 11–17, 2007)
• 7th in 2006 American League Cy Young Award Voting (the highest of any rookie pitcher)
• 5th in 2007 American League Cy Young Award Voting
• 15th in 2006 American League MVP Voting (the highest of any rookie and second highest of any pitcher – Johan Santana was 7th)
• Named to 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 American League All-Star Teams
• Became first Tigers pitcher since Denny McLain in 1968 (31–6, .838) to lead the American League in winning percentage and qualify for an ERA title (18–6, .750) in 2007.
• American League Pitcher of the Month (May, 2009)
• 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 when he pulled off the feat July 24, 2009. Then-Mariners hurler Mike Moore was the last to do it, on Sept. 16, 1985.
• 2009 Tiger of the Year
• 3rd in 2009 American League Cy Young Award Voting
• 2011 Roberto Clemente Award winner

Quotes about Verlander

• "He's a special talent. I think he's one of the premier pitchers in the league, not just young pitchers." – Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland
• "My God, that guy's throwing 100 miles an hour in the sixth inning, you're not going to mount much against him. It's really tough for the best hitters in baseball to put that in play consistently." – Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones
• "It was the best thing that ever happened to me." – Verlander on his first no-hitter

See also

• List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
• List of Major League Baseball wins champions
• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Huston Street	American League Rookie of the Year 2006	Succeeded by Dustin Pedroia
Preceded by Huston Street	Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year 2006	Succeeded by Dustin Pedroia
Preceded by Huston Street	Baseball America Rookie of the Year 2006	Succeeded by Ryan Braun
Preceded by Huston Street	Players Choice AL Most Outstanding Rookie 2006	Succeeded by Dustin Pedroia
Preceded by Mark Buehrle Francisco Liriano	No-hitter pitcher June 12, 2007 May 7, 2011	Succeeded by Clay Buchholz Ervin Santana
Preceded by Francisco Liriano	American League Winning Percentage Champion 2007	Succeeded by Cliff Lee
Preceded by Zach Greinke	American League Pitcher of the Month May 2009	Succeeded by Felix Hernandez
Preceded by A. J. Burnett	American League Strikeout Champion 2009	Succeeded by Jered Weaver
Preceded by Cliff Lee	American League Wins Champion 2009 (with CC Sabathia and Felix Hernandez)	Succeeded by CC Sabathia