All articles tagged with #mlb retirement
Justin Verlander officially retired from Major League Baseball on September 26, 2026, after a 21-year career. His final start at Comerica Park featured an emotional exit involving his daughter, a walk-off victory for the Detroit Tigers, and a $100,000 donation to a veteran pet adoption program. His wife, Kate Upton, announced on the 'Today' show that she will no longer watch baseball.
Justin Verlander officially retired from Major League Baseball following his final start on September 26, 2026. The former Cy Young winner concluded his career with a $100,000 donation to Michigan Humane for Military and an emotional exit at Comerica Park.
Justin Verlander concluded his 21-year Major League Baseball career with a 4-3 walk-off victory for the Detroit Tigers against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 43-year-old pitcher, limited by hip and hamstring injuries, threw 5 1/3 innings in his final start. The game ended with a surprise appearance by his seven-year-old daughter, Genevieve, who ran to the mound for a tearful hug. Verlander finished his career with 266 wins, 3,560 strikeouts, and three Cy Young Awards.
Veteran reliever Kirby Yates announced his retirement on September 26, 2026, immediately after pitching his first career start for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 39-year-old right-hander threw 1.2 scoreless innings in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers, a game that also featured Justin Verlander’s final career start. Yates, who spent parts of 12 seasons with eight different clubs, finished with a 3.35 ERA and 101 saves. He cited physical exhaustion, stating he had 'nothing left' to give the game. His final appearance marked a symbolic end to a career defined by elite strikeout rates and two All-Star selections, concluding with a farewell moment shared by two aging veterans in the same game.
Shohei Ohtani sent a heartfelt message to Clayton Kershaw, praising his Hall of Fame career and professionalism as Kershaw prepares to retire after the 2025 season, marking the end of an illustrious 18-year MLB career with the Dodgers.