Justin Verlander, a three-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion, announced Wednesday that the 2026 season will be his final one in Major League Baseball. In a heartfelt statement, the future Hall of Famer thanked everyone who helped him along the way—but saved his most personal words for his wife, model Kate Upton.
“To my family, especially my wife Kate, thank you for standing beside me through every season, every rehab, and every high and low. I couldn’t have done this without you,” Verlander wrote. The couple, who married in 2017, have been a fixture at ballparks and red carpets alike, and Upton has often been seen cheering him on from the stands.
Verlander, now 43, made the announcement in a statement shared on social media, saying he plans to finish the season with the Detroit Tigers—the team that drafted him in 2004—before hanging up his spikes for good. “It’s fitting that I get to finish where it all started,” he wrote.
The right-hander’s career has been nothing short of legendary. Over 21 seasons with the Tigers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants, Verlander compiled a 266-159 record with a 3.33 ERA, 3,554 strikeouts, and a 1.14 WHIP. He ranks eighth on MLB’s all-time strikeout list and threw three no-hitters, including one in 2019 with the Astros.
Verlander’s trophy case includes the 2011 AL MVP, the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, nine All-Star selections, and three Cy Young Awards (2011, 2019, 2022). He also led the American League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts in 2011 to capture the pitching Triple Crown. His two World Series rings came with Houston in 2017 and 2022, and he was named ALCS MVP in 2017.
“Baseball has given me more than I could have imagined. It taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of continuing to adapt and evolve,” Verlander said. He also thanked the commissioner for his All-Star selection this season, calling it “an incredibly special moment for me and my family.”
Verlander’s announcement comes amid a season that has tested him like never before. “This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally,” he admitted. Despite a difficult year statistically—he entered the All-Star break with a 12.27 ERA—his legacy remains untarnished. Some fans were furious about his All-Star selection, but Verlander focused on gratitude.
He also acknowledged the broader baseball community: “To every teammate, coach, player, clubhouse attendant, and fan who has been part of this journey – thank you.”
Verlander’s retirement will close the book on one of the greatest pitching careers of the modern era. He’s a lock for Cooperstown, and his final season—back where it all began in Detroit—promises to be an emotional ride. “But first, I’m excited to finish this season the only way I know how – with everything I’ve got,” he wrote.
For Upton, who has been with him through injuries, trades, and triumphs, Verlander’s message was a rare public nod to the woman who helped him weather it all. The couple has two children, and as Verlander looks ahead to the next chapter, he’ll have his biggest fan by his side.
