In a signing that has been dreamed of by many Detroit Tigers fans for the last nine years, 43-year-old Justin Verlander signed a one year contract to pitch for the Tigers in 2026 on Feb. 10. It will be his 21st season as a pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Since he was traded from the Tigers to the Houston Astros in 2017, he has seen incredible success, winning two Cy Young awards, given to the best pitcher in a League, and two World Series titles. In a radio interview with Detroit sports news station 97.1 The Ticket, former manager Jim Leyland shared his excitement about seeing Verlander return to the club he began his career with.
“I have to say, I was a little surprised, but certainly very happy,… he’s made a lot of big pitches on that mound in Comerica Park,” Leyland said. “I texted him, and I just told him ‘welcome home.’”
From his two no-hitters to his 2011 season where he won the Cy Young award and American League MVP, his first 12 years in Detroit were never lost on fans after he left the city. Grosse Pointe South baseball pitcher Jack Danielewicz ’26 sees Verlander as one of his primary sources of inspiration, especially as a pitcher.
“Verlander maintains a ridiculous level of poise and confidence while on the mound, and it’s something I try and channel into my outings,” Danielewicz said. “He maintains pretty solid composure, and it definitely leads to success on the mound.”
Verlander’s presence on the mound is not the only trait admired by Tigers fans. Christopher Booth, a history teacher at South and long time fan of the team, is fascinated by his workhorse qualities in the games he started.
“He’s one of the few guys I’ve ever seen where… as the game goes on, he starts throwing harder,” Booth said. “To get stronger as the game goes on, it’s sort of unbelievable.”
Booth watched Verlander when he first joined the Tigers in 2005 as a rookie call-up, and when he became a regular player in 2006. By 2007, Verlander threw his first of two no-hitters with the Tigers, and Booth was fortunate enough to be in attendance. He has very high aspirations for Verlander as the baseball season approaches, with opening day on March 26th in San Diego.
“You have a younger team in the Tigers… they’ve been in the playoffs the last two years, [Verlander] can help with that,” Booth said. “I think it’s not just a nostalgic thing, he’s still pretty good.”
