Justin Verlander
FameRank: 6

"Justin Brooks Verlander" is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

In 2006, Verlander was named the American League (AL) Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award#American League winners (1949–present)/Rookie of the Year. On June 12, 2007, he pitched a no-hitter—the first ever at Comerica Park—against the 2007 Milwaukee Brewers season/Milwaukee Brewers, strikeout/striking out 12 batters and bases on balls/walking four. He pitched a second no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 7, 2011, in Toronto, walking one and facing the minimum 27 batters. On November 15, 2011, Verlander was named the 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner by a unanimous vote, becoming the first American League pitcher since Johan Santana in 2006 to win the award in such a fashion. On November 21, 2011, Verlander was voted the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award#Baseball Writers Association of America Most Valuable Player (1931-present)/AL Most Valuable Player (MVP), winning with 280 points over Jacoby Ellsbury's 242, completing a sweep of the Cy Young Award and MVP. He is listed at 6'5" and 225 pounds.

More Justin Verlander on Wikipedia.

That's the way I pitched all last year, using the off-speed to set it up a little bit more. I felt like sometimes I get into a habit of throwing too many fastballs and just relying on that, whereas I'm sure I could throw a lot more off-speed stuff for strikes.

264

A little better. A little smoother, a little bit less nervous this time out. It's only my second time; there's a lot of stuff to work on.

203

I've always been able to control myself. If I go back down and the Tigers find something I have to work on, then hopefully I'll go back and show them that I can do what they want me to do up here.

199

All I can remember is sitting on the bench in a cold rain. All year long. Every day, it was raining. It just didn't work out.

174

I was glad to get that double play. Whether I settled down or not, that's a different question.

163

We've got a bunch of young, solid pitchers out there that can all pitch at the major league level. So I think it's a great sign for the organization and for the Tigers in the future. As far as being in the middle of it, it's fun.

139

I'm progressing like I should be. I felt better today than I did the time before, and I felt better then than I did my first (start).

135

The Detroit fans treated me great. I was glad to see they knew my name.

102

I went to grab it, and I didn't grab it right. I kinda threw it. It was a wonder it even made it halfway there.

76