Detroit Tigers’ Verlander leaves final start of career as 7-year-old daughter runs for a hug

DETROIT — Justin Verlander had just retired the first batter in the sixth inning of his major league finale when Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch walked from the dugout toward home plate. The pitcher’s 7-year-old daughter suddenly sprinted toward the mound.

“It completely blindsided me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks,” Verlander said.

A stellar career for the 43-year-old right-hander ended with a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. Verlander’s emotions will be remembered much more than the score of a meaningless match on the penultimate day of his 21st season in the league.

“It was unbelievable. I was sobbing and I had to make sure she understood that I was happy,” Verlander said. “She’s never seen me cry like that.”

Genevieve Verlander, wearing a Tigers jersey with her father’s name and the number 35, saw Hinch’s reply and ran. When she reached the mound, she hugged her father, who leaned in to kiss her and began to shake.

Hinch joined them about 25 seconds later for another hug, and then Verlander was surrounded by Tigers teammates who came to the mound.

Hinch had planned Genevieve’s trip with Verlander’s wife, model Kate Upton,

“It’s hard to surprise a guy who planned everything and planned it more than any human being I’ve ever been around,” said Hinch, who managed Verlander to the 2017 World Series title with Houston. “We wanted to come up with something special, and his family means everything to him.”

A ten-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner, Verlander left the field after his final appearance on the mound grabbing his daughter’s hand as the Comerica Park crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Upton, holding her 1-year-old son Bellamy, joined Justin and Genevieve for a group hug on the warning track in front of the Tigers dugout, and Justin greeted his teammates and took off his cap to the crowd before walking down the dugout steps with his family.

“I’ve obviously talked a lot about how my life has changed and how my family is what I look forward to most in retirement,” the pitcher said. “Leaving the field with them to end my career is as good as I could have dreamed of.”

Hinch brought Miguel Cabrera’s family onto the field coming out of his final game in 2023.

“They don’t normally let people on the field without a uniform,” Hinch said. “But they make exceptions for guys who are going to be elected in the first ballot to the Hall of Fame.”

In all, there was a 5 1/2 minute wait until reliever Tyler Kinley threw out his first pitch.

Verlander allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with one walk and six strikeouts in his 91-pitch outing. He was making his second start of the year and first since March 30 in a season that was derailed by a hip and hamstring injury.

“He didn’t want an appearance. He wanted today to be a competitive outing, and we could tell in the third and fourth innings that he wasn’t working,” Hinch said. “He certainly reminded us why he is one of the best of all time.”

Eduardo Valencia’s game-ending home run in Detroit’s 4-3 win kept Verlander undefeated in his final. He finished 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts, eighth on the career list.

“It was a great end to a great day,” Hinch said. “There was no way Justin Verlander could take the loss in his final game as a Tiger.”

Pittsburgh’s fifth hitter, 20-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin, wasn’t born when Verlander made his debut for the Tigers on July 4, 2005.

Verlander received a standing ovation when he headed to the bullpen to warm up and a longer one when he returned to the dugout before the first pitch. Oscar winner JK Simmons, a longtime Tigers fan, announced him as part of Detroit’s starting lineup.

Verlander entered the field for the first inning to another ovation. He was alone on the field while his teammates stayed in the dugout to give him the spotlight.

“That blindsided me too,” he said. “I probably should have expected it, but I was trying to stick to my routine, so I ran onto the field. I was ready to leave before I realized everyone was still in the dugout.”

Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead against Verlander thanks to solo homers by Lowe in the fourth and Nick Gonzales in the fifth, the former on an 89.7 mph fastball and the latter on a curve.

Verlander pitched for the Tigers from 2005 to 2017, then returned this year after several stints with Houston, the New York Mets and San Francisco.

“All the ovations today brought back a lot of good memories of the good old days here, when this park was loud every night,” Verlander said. “But my body didn’t remind me of those days at all.”