Justin Verlander retiring in 2026; Kate Upton praised
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander announced Wednesday that the 2026 season will be his last in Major League Baseball, closing a Hall of Fame-caliber career that includes three Cy Young Awards and two World Series titles. In his statement, he singled out wife Kate Upton for standing beside him through every season, rehab, and setback.
The 43-year-old made the announcement on social media the same day MLB commissioner Rob Manfred named him a Legend Pick for his 10th All-Star Game appearance. Verlander said injuries this year challenged him physically and mentally, and that the game—not a calendar date—told him it was time to walk away.
Key Takeaways
- Verlander confirmed on July 8, 2026, that he will retire when the Tigers' season ends.
- He thanked Kate Upton publicly, and fans echoed praise for the four-time Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model.
- Manfred added Verlander to the All-Star roster as a Legend Pick, though he remains on the injured list.
- Verlander has 266 career wins and 3,554 strikeouts across 21 MLB seasons, mostly with Detroit and Houston.
- He still plans to return to the mound for Detroit before his career ends at Comerica Park.
Why is Justin Verlander retiring after the 2026 season?
Verlander wrote that 2026 has tested him in ways he had not experienced before. Hamstring and hip issues limited him to one start on March 30 against Arizona, when he lasted 3⅔ innings before leaving with hip inflammation.
He has not pitched at Comerica Park since rejoining the Tigers in free agency. Recent years also brought shoulder, neck, teres major, chest, and hip injuries that repeatedly sent him to the injured list.
"I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar," Verlander said. "I wanted the game to tell me when it was time."
What did Justin Verlander say about Kate Upton?
In his retirement message, Verlander turned to family first. "To my family, especially my wife Kate, thank you for standing beside me through every season, every rehab, and every high and low," he wrote. "I couldn't have done this without you."
That line quickly resonated beyond baseball. As OutKick noted, online reaction included a "well-earned hat tip" to Upton, a four-time SI Swimsuit cover model who has been there through every high and low. Fox News reported that you "can't tell the full story" of his career without mentioning her.
The couple's public profile drew extra attention this spring when Sports Illustrated Swimsuit promoted a bikini welcome for his expected first home start in April—a start he missed while injured. For more on how celebrity and sports headlines collide, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
How will Verlander finish his final Tigers season?
Despite the retirement news, Verlander said he is not done competing in 2026. He told reporters at Comerica Park that his focus remains helping a Tigers club playing strong baseball, not staging an early farewell tour.
He was scheduled to throw a bullpen session the day after his announcement and said he felt the best he had all summer. Teammate Tarik Skubal joked that great pitchers sometimes return after retirement talk, but Verlander insisted this decision is final.
What does Verlander's legacy look like?
Verlander was the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year and 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner. He also owns three no-hitters and ranks eighth on MLB's all-time strikeout list, needing 21 more to pass Don Sutton for seventh, per ESPN.
He made his debut with Detroit in 2005 and is ending where he started. "It's fitting that I get to finish where it all started—with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity," he said.
Verlander will not play in the All-Star Game while on the injured list, but the Legend Pick honor caps a 21-season run that spans Detroit, Houston, the New York Mets, and the San Francisco Giants. "It's time for the next chapter," he wrote. "But first, I'm excited to finish this season the only way I know how—with everything I've got."