One of baseball’s greatest pitchers, Justin Verlander, has announced his retirement following the 2026 season. The three-time Cy Young Award winner shared this decision on Wednesday, citing the challenges of an injury-filled season with the Detroit Tigers.
“This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally. I’ve always believed that as long as I could compete at the level I expect of myself, I’d keep playing. 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. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come,” Verlander said in a social media post.
Determined to give his best to the team for the rest of the season, Verlander expressed gratitude for finishing his career with the organization where it all began. The Detroit Tigers drafted him and offered his first chance in the major leagues.
Verlander signed a one-year contract with the Tigers, where he played for 12½ seasons before joining the Houston Astros. In Houston, he regained his form, winning two World Series titles and two Cy Young Awards.
“Baseball has given me more than I could have imagined. It taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of continuing to adapt and evolve. I’ve been fortunate to play with and against incredible players, for outstanding organizations, and compete in-front of fans who deeply appreciate the game,” Verlander added in his announcement.
Reflecting on his journey, Verlander expressed thanks to teammates, coaches, fans, and especially his family, acknowledging his wife’s support through every season.
At 43 years old, Verlander leads active players with 3,554 strikeouts, ranking eighth in the all-time list. He needs 21 more to surpass Don Sutton and 87 to overtake Tom Seaver.
Debuting in MLB in 2005, he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in his second season. He was a Cy Young finalist on four other occasions and consistently ranked high in various pitching statistics.
Commissioner Rob Manfred granted Verlander a legend’s exemption to this year’s Midsummer Classic, marking his 10th All-Star appearance. Verlander’s career-best season was in 2022, recording a 1.75 ERA and a 0.829 WHIP after missing the 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery. He suffered the injury after pitching one inning in the shortened 2020 season.
He secured his first Cy Young Award in 2011, also earning the MVP Award, and his second in 2019. The gap of 11 seasons between his first and last Cy Young Awards is second only to Roger Clemens’ 18 seasons between his first and seventh.
Verlander led the majors in innings and WHIP four times, while recording the most strikeouts in three seasons during his illustrious career.