Justin Verlander made his final career start on Saturday, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing two earned runs while striking out six batters. It was only his second start of the season for the Detroit Tigers.
Verlander was pulled from the mound by his daughter, Genevieve, who joined him for the final walk off the field as he transitioned into retirement.
The Tigers trailed in the game but rallied in the ninth inning, winning on a two-run home run by Eduardo Valencia. The walk-off victory meant Verlander did not finish his career with a loss on the record for that outing.
Verlander, 43, retires with multiple World Series championships and Cy Young Award honors over a career spanning more than two decades in Major League Baseball.
Following the game, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit posted a tribute on Instagram marking the occasion, revisiting a 2024 cover shoot featuring Verlander’s wife, model Kate Upton, who has also stepped back from her modeling work. The post read: “In honor of Justin Verlander retiring this past weekend, a look back at @kateupton’s 2024 cover shoot.”
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