Justin Verlander Biography, Family

Justin Verlander is an American baseball player, who played for Detroit Tigers and now currently playing for Houston Astros. His original name is Justin Brooks Verlander. Justin was MLB All-star seven times.

Justin Verlander was born on 20 February 1980 in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. Verlander was shown interest in baseball from his childhood. He admired by the baseball players and baseball fields around his town.
Verlander father Richard saw a special potential for sports in his son and led him to play the baseball.

Career

At the age of 13, Justin father sent him to “The Richmond Baseball Academy”. After joining in this academy, his velocity was improved. He threw the ball at 84 mph.

Justin attended Goochland High School, He played his senior year baseball here and improved his velocity to 86mph.

For three years, Justin Verlander played baseball for Old Dominion University team. In 2003, He scored 139 strikeouts which were a record in school single-season and next year he broke his own record by scoring 151 strikeouts. He became an all-time strikeout leader in Old Dominion history.

In 2003 Justin Verlander was selected for the USA National Baseball team and he led the USA team to grab a silver medal in Pan American Games.

In 2004 Verlander was picked up for MLB (Major League Baseball) by the Detroit Tigers and here his professional career was started. In his first MLB season, he made 124 strikeouts in 186 innings and he threw few balls over 100mph velocity. In 2006, he was named American League Rookie of the Year.

In 2007 he scored 183 strikeouts in 201 innings and made his team to win 18 games. In the next season, he has failed to impress, this led to 17 losses.

Justin back to super form In 2009 season where he made 269 strikeouts, it was the highest by Detroit Tigers after Mickey Lollich’s 308 strikeouts which were made in 1971. Justin extended his contract $80 millions with Tigers for five years.

In 2011 he scored 1000th strikeout in his career and also made second no-hitter and soon he completed his 100th victory in the major league against Cleveland Indians.

Justin won Tripple Crown Pitching in the AL, 24 wins and 250 strikeouts in the league. Justin pitched magnificently all the year and his stardom risen to the top level. Verlander won Pitcher of the Year award, Player Choice award and Sporting News Player of the Year award in consecutively for 2011 and 2012 year.

In 2013 Verlander signed a contract worth $180millions with Tigers for seven years. This was the highest amount in the MLB history paid to a pitcher.

In 2014& 2015 Verlander missed some games due to muscle injury and triceps strain.

In 2016 Justin recorded 2000 strikeouts milestone in his career, He was the second pitcher from Tigers after Lolich to reach the milestone.

In 2017 Verlander was sent to the Houston Astros. By the end of the season, he finished 219 strikeouts by throwing 3531 pitches in 206 innings.

In 2018 Verlander made a record of 2500 strikeouts milestone, He became the 33rd person in major league history to reach 2500 milestone.

Verlander started Wins for Warriors Foundation in 2016 for veterans of United States Army.

Justin Verlander Family

Justin Verlander Parents

Justin Verlander mother name is Kathy Verlander and his father Richard Verlander worked in the communications industry as a president for communications workers of America. Justin Verlander has a younger brother, his name is Ben Verlander.

Justin Verlander Wife

Justin Verlander wife is Kate Upton, She is a famous model and actress. They met in 2014 at an event and started dating. In 2017 the couple got married in Tuscany, Italy.

On 7 November 2018, Kate Upton gave birth to baby girl, The couple named their daughter as Genevieve Upton Verlander.

Awards

American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player (2017)
American League Most Valuable Player (2011)
Cy Young Award (2011)
American League Pitcher of the Month (2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018)
American League Rookie of the Year (2006)
Babe Ruth Award (2017)
Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year Award (2006)
6× Major League Baseball All-Star (2007, 2009 to 2013)
Players Choice Award for AL Outstanding Pitcher (2011)
Players Choice Award for AL Outstanding Rookie (2006)
Players Choice Award for Player of the Year (2011)
Tiger of the Year-BBWAA-Detroit Chapter (2009, 2011, 2016)
Triple Crown (2011)
World Series champion (2017)

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