Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander will retire at the end of the season, his 21st in the majors.
Verlander’s announcement Wednesday came as he was named to the American League roster for the 2026 All-Star Game as a “legend pick.”
“I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar,” Verlander wrote in a social media post. “I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. 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. It’s fitting that I get to finish where it all started — with the Detroit Tigers.”
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) July 8, 2026
Verlander, 43, will head to the All-Star Game for the 10th time. He is injured and will not participate in the game on Tuesday in Philadelphia.
“Baseball has given me more than I could have imagined,” Verlander said in his statement. “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 made only one appearance in his return to the Tigers this season before he went on the 15-day injured list on April 4 with left hip inflammation. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2011 AL MVP was moved to the 60-day IL and was ready to be activated before he sustained a left hamstring injury during a scheduled session in Houston on June 17.
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper previously was named as a legend pick for the National League.
Making his first start for Detroit since the 2017 season, Verlander gave up five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings in his only start so far this season on March 30 at Arizona. He took the loss in a 9-6 setback against the Diamondbacks.
Verlander is 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 career games (all starts) with the Tigers (2005-17, 2026), Houston Astros (2017-20, 2022-24), New York Mets (2023) and San Francisco Giants (2025). He leads all active pitchers in wins and ranks eighth all-time in strikeouts (3,554).
–Field Level Media
