Detroit. One of the best pitchers of his generation will put an end to a career that will remain etched in the history of Major League Baseball. Justin Verlander announced this Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season and, in recognition of his extraordinary career, he was chosen by Commissioner Rob Manfred as a “Legend Selection” for the All-Star Game to be held next week in Philadelphia.
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The 43-year-old right-hander, currently on the 60-day injured list due to hip and hamstring discomfort, will play in his tenth All-Star Game, this time in the uniform of the Detroit Tigers, the organization where he began a brilliant 21-season career in Major League Baseball.
“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. In the last few months, I have realized that that moment has arrived,” Verlander expressed in a statement published on his social media.
The veteran pitcher noted that, although he will continue to give his all for the Tigers for the remainder of the campaign, he considers it appropriate to close his career with the organization that opened the doors to professional baseball for him.
Verlander will be honored at the Midsummer Classic alongside Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, who was also designated as a “Legend Selection.” The right-hander is the second Tigers player to receive that distinction, after Miguel Cabrera was recognized by the commissioner in 2022.
His legacy places him among the best pitchers of the modern era. He has accumulated 266 wins, 3,554 strikeouts—the eighth-highest total in Major League history—and three no-hitters. In addition, he won three Cy Young Awards, was the American League Most Valuable Player in 2011, Rookie of the Year in 2006, and won two World Series with the Houston Astros.
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During his historic 2011 season, he recorded a 24-5 record with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts, achieving the American League pitching Triple Crown and becoming the first starter in 25 years to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
Selected in the second position of the 2004 Draft, Verlander played seven seasons with the Astros, where he won the 2017 and 2022 World Series titles, in addition to earning two of his three Cy Young awards.
With his announcement, baseball begins to bid farewell to one of the most dominant and consistent pitchers of the 21st century, whose career will be remembered as one of the most brilliant in the history of Major League Baseball.
