Tigers’ Justin Verlander makes retirement announcement amid All-Star news

Tigers’ Justin Verlander makes retirement announcement amid All-Star news originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Detroit Tigers got some cool news on Wednesday, as Justin Verlander, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, was named as a “Legends Pick” for the All-Star Game this season.

While he’s not going to pitch during the game, Verlander has been named an All-Star by MLB this season. However, not long after this announcement was made, Verlander made a huge announcement of his own.

As Verlander announced, the 2026 season will be his last, as he’s retiring from Major League Baseball after this season comes to an end.

Justin Verlander announces he’ll retire after the 2026 season

“… 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,” Verlander writes. “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.”

Verlander is going to be retiring after the 2026 MLB season, as his 21st season in the big leagues, and his 14th with the Tigers, will be his last.

He’s currently on the injured list, and his lone start this season was a five-run outing in 3.2 innings at the start of the season. This season hasn’t gone to plan, but it’s hardly a blemish on his Hall of Fame resume.

The 43-year-old pitcher has put up 82.3 bWAR, 266 wins, a 3.33 ERA, nine shutouts, and 3,554 strikeouts across 556 games and 3,571.1 innings pitched in his career.

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He won an MVP award, is a three-time Cy Young award-winner, Rookie of the Year, 10-time All-Star, and a two-time World Series champion.

As Verlander went on to note, “It’s fitting I get to finish where it all started – with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity.”

Taken No. 2 overall in the 2004 MLB Draft by the Tigers, Verlander has turned into one of baseball’s greatest pitchers.

But, for now, Verlander is going to try and come back during the 2026 season: “But first, I’m excited to finish this season the only way I know how – with everything I’ve got.”

Verlander is going to the Hall of Fame in five years, the moment he’s eligible to be voted in. The Tigers legend, who spent time with the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants, is going to retire once the 2026 season is over.

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