Justin Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior to his time with the Astros, he played for the Detroit Tigers, the team that selected him with the second overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft.
Verlander has achieved a lot in his career. He has earned several All-Star selections, won the World Series, Pitching Triple Crown, and the American League MVP award, among many other honors. All of these have contributed to him being regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the sport. Outside of his career, he has made headlines for his relationship and marriage to American actress and model Kate Upton. Below is everything interesting to know about Justine Verlander.
Justin Verlander Bio Summary
- Full Name: Justin Brooks Verlander
- Date of Birth: February 20, 1983
- Age: 39 years old (as of 2022)
- Place of Birth: Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
- Ethnicity: White
- Nationality: American
- Education: Old Dominion University
- Justin Verlander Wife: Kate Upton
- Children: One Daughter (Genevieve)
- Parents: Richard Verlander, Kathy Verlander
- Siblings: Ben Verlander
- Height: 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm)
- Weight: 200 pounds (91 kg)
- Profession: Baseball Player
- Net Worth: $95 million
- Instagram: justinverlander
- Twitter: justinverlander
- Facebook: Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander is a Native of Virginia
Justin Verlander was born on the 20th of February 1983, in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. He is the first of two sons born to his parents; Kathy and Richard Verlander. Justin was raised alongside his brother Ben Verlander, who like him also played professional baseball.
While growing up, the Verlander boys had a very close bond with their father who was a big baseball enthusiast. Richard played catch with his boys and encouraged them to play the game professionally. He was particularly moved after he witnessed his son demonstrate his strong arm by throwing a rock further than he could.
He Began Playing Baseball in High School
By the time Justin Verlander was 9, he began playing baseball at the youth level and was reported to be the best pitcher in the Richmond area. He attended Goochland High School where in his senior year he recorded 144 strikes in 72 innings with 0.38 ERA.
After failing to secure professional baseball interest in high school, Verlander accepted a scholarship offer to attend Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He notably rejected high-profile institutions like Duke to stay close to home. At Old Dominion, Verlander made sure he enshrined his name into the school and the Colonial Athletic Association’s (CAA) record books as his performances garnered a selection to the United States national team that won silver at the 2003 Pan American Games.
Before that, he was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2002 and earned All-CAA honors in 2003 and 2004. Verlander was further named the ODU Alumni Association’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2004. These achievements earned him wide attention from the MLB and so the Detroit Tigers opted to select him with the second overall pick in the 2004 draft.
Justin Verlander Has Played For Only Two MLB Teams in His Career
Following his selection in the draft in 2004, Justin Verlander played in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut on July 4, 2005. In 2006, he became the first rookie pitcher in MLB history to win 10 games before the end of June. This went a long way in earning him the AL Rookie of the Year award. The following year, he gained his first ALL Star nod, a clear indication that he was on his way to becoming one of the greatest to have ever played the game.
Verlander would go on to have a stellar career with the Tigers that lasted for over a decade, from 2004 to 2017, before he was traded to the Houston Astros. The pitcher’s trade didn’t ruin his performance as he kept on earning various honors. One of his most notable achievements with the Astros was his first career 300-strikeout season in 2019. That same year, he won his second Cy Young award.
List of Justin Verlander Awards and Honors
- World Series champion (2017)
- 8× All-Star (2007, 2009–2013, 2018, 2019)
- AL MVP (2011)
- All-MLB First Team (2019)
- 2× AL Cy Young Award (2011, 2019)
- Pitching Triple Crown (2011)
- AL Rookie of the Year (2006)
- ALCS MVP (2017)
- 3× MLB wins leader (2009, 2011, 2019)
- AL ERA leader (2011)
- 5× AL strikeout leader (2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018)
- Pitched three no-hitters (2007, 2011, 2019)
- Babe Ruth Award (2017)
- Bob Feller Act of Valor Award (2013)
What is Justin Verlander’s Net Worth?
Justin Verlander has a net worth estimated to be around $95 million. The pitcher was able to amass his massive wealth through his salary over the years. In 2013, he put pen to paper on what was at the time the biggest deal ever handed to a pitcher – a seven-year contract worth $180 million.
Verlander has also earned from endorsement deals. The multiple-time All-Star has signed lucrative endorsement deals with companies like Under Armour, GlaxoSmithKline, Breitling, Rawlings, etc.
Verlander is Married to Model and Actress Kate Upton
Justin Verlander is married to supermodel and actress Kate Upton who rose to prominence when she was featured on the cover of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has since appeared on many other covers and has starred in movies like Tower Heist (2011), The Three Stooges (2012), and The Layover (2017).
Verlander and Upton are believed to have begun dating in early 2014. Two years later, in 2016, they got engaged. In November 2017, a few days after the baseball player celebrated winning the World Series, he and his actress girlfriend went ahead to exchange vows at a private ceremony held in a medieval church in Tuscany, Italy. They wedded in front of close family and friends.
About a year after their wedding, Verlander became a first-time parent with the birth of a daughter in November 2018. The couple named their little girl Genevieve.
How Tall is Justin Verlander?
Justin Verlander’s height is listed at 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm). The pitcher is quite tall as he is way taller than the average American man. He, however, is very far off from being among the tallest baseball players ever. Athletes like Loek van Mil and Jon Rauch are some of the tallest to have ever played professional baseball.
Verlander’s weight is listed at 102 kg (225 lbs).
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