Justin Verlander Honored in Retirement Ceremony at Comerica Park

Justin Verlander was honored at Comerica Park on September 26, 2026, before his final start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 43-year-old, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, was joined on the field by his family, including his 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, who threw the first pitch, and his wife, Kate Upton, who watched with their 1-year-old son, Bellamy. "It’s been awesome. We’ve been practicing," Verlander said regarding his daughter's participation. He expressed pride in her enthusiasm for baseball, noting that she has shown interest in playing catch with him. Verlander has faced challenges this season, having pitched only 3 ⅔ innings due to injuries, and the Tigers are not in contention for the postseason. During the ceremony, he emotionally addressed the fans, stating, "I am, and always will be, a Detroit Tiger." Verlander, who has 266 career wins and 3,555 strikeouts, acknowledged feeling anxious about his final outing, indicating he would be on a limited pitch count. He reflected on his career goals, mentioning the missed milestone of 300 wins but affirmed his satisfaction with his achievements.