There aren’t many pitchers in baseball today who can match Justin Verlander based on talent and acclaim. The MLB All-Star, who played seven times for the Detroit Tigers in 13 seasons before joining the Houston Astros just before the trade deadline in 2017, is a World Series champion, winner of the American League’s Cy Young Award. MLB wins the title of leader and a achiever of the Pitching Triple Crown, among many other accomplishments.
The former Old Dominion University baseball player, who broke school and division records, also represented the United States in international competition. Verlander is known for his four pitching styles; a four-seam fastball, a slider, a curveball at 12-6 and a change of course, which brought him huge success and cemented his legendary status.
the biography
On February 20, 1983, in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, Kathy and Richard Verlander welcomed the first of their two sons, Justin Brooks Verlander. Growing up, Verlander had a very close bond with his baseball-loving father. The story goes that it was his father who encouraged him to play after seeing his son demonstrate his mighty arm by throwing a stone farther than he could.
At age 9, Verlander began playing youth baseball and was said to be the best pitcher in the Richmond area. He attended Goochland High School where in his senior year he recorded 144 strikes in 72 innings averaging 0.38 sq. Verlander and his family had hoped that a baseball team would come for him, but that was not the case and the young boy had no choice but to go to college.
Justin Verlander had the opportunity to play Duke got a college baseball scholarship, but he chose to stay close to home and attend Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Here, Verlander made sure to put his name on the school and Colonial Athletic Association records, becoming the undisputed all-time leader in the school and in the division. His performances later led him to be part of the United States national team that won the silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games.
After three years at Old Dominion where in his senior year, he was named ODU Alumni Association Male Athlete of the Year. Justin Verlander was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the second overall pick in the 2004 draft draw. He then played for two Detroit Minor League teams: the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Erie SeaWolves before making his debut in the Major League on July 4, 2005.
Net value
Justin Verlander has an estimated net worth of around $105 million. The pitcher was able to amass his immense fortune through his salary over the years at the majors and through endorsement deals.
In 2013, Verlander penned what was, at the time, the biggest deal ever handed to a pitcher, a seven-year contract worth $180 million. During that time, the six-time Major League Baseball star also signed lucrative endorsement deals with companies like Under Armour, GlaxoSmithKline, Breitling and Rawlings.
Is he married? Who is his wife or girlfriend?
Justin Verlander is indeed married. The 2017 Babe Ruth award winner married his girlfriend of a few years, supermodel and actress Kate Upton, who appeared on the cover of a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues issue and also starred in films like Tour heist (2011) and La escale (2017).
The pair reportedly began dating in early 2014 before getting engaged two years later in 2016. In November 2017, days after Verlander celebrated winning the World Series, he and his actress girlfriend visited to exchange vows at a a private ceremony in a medieval church in Tuscany, Italy, witnessed closely by family and friends.
Justin Verlander’s brother
Justin Verlander has a younger brother named Ben who was born on January 31, 1992 in Maidens, Virginia. Like his big brother, Ben is also a professional baseball player. The Detroit Tigers called him a full player, but he was released by the team in June 2017.
Height, weight and other facts
Birth name: Justin Brooks Verlander
Date of birth: February 20, 1983
Place of birth: Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m)
Weight: 225 pounds (102 kg)
Profession: Athlete (baseball player)
Position: Pitcher
Zodiac sign: Pisces