The 43-year-old pitcher Justin Verlander takes the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates for the final start of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, marking an emotional homecoming in Detroit. The game represents his first start in Detroit wearing a Tigers uniform in exactly 9 years and 37 days, closing the book on an illustrious career that originally launched in 2004.
Scheduled for 1:10 PM Eastern Time (11:10 AM Mountain Time), the contest serves as an official farewell stage organized by the Detroit Tigers. Before throwing his ceremonial final pitches, the veteran right-hander received public praise from family members who witnessed his journey from the beginning.
Ben Verlander Honors His Brother Ahead of Historic Farewell
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Hours before game time, younger brother Ben Verlander shared a personal reflection across social media regarding the impact of his older sibling. The message detailed the deep timeline between starts at Comerica Park and credited the veteran ace with sparking his own lifelong passion for professional baseball.
“Today my brother makes the final start of his career. It will be his first start in Detroit for the Tigers in 9 years and 37 days (August 2017). So many memories in Detroit. Baseball is my life. A huge reason for that is my brother. I fell in love with baseball watching him play. Today I get to watch him play one more time. Let’s do this. Go Tigers,” wrote Ben Verlander.
The tribute highlighted how their individual paths intertwined within the sport, establishing a bond that spanned multiple levels of the Tigers system.
A Shared Legacy Within the Detroit Tigers Organization
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While both brothers wore the Olde English ‘D’ during their professional baseball journeys, their operational roles within the franchise were distinct. The older brother anchored the major league rotation, whereas the younger brother navigated development within the farm system.
Comparing the Verlander Brothers in Detroit
Selected second overall in the 2004 draft, Justin Verlander built an elite major league resume that featured 556 appearances, 26 complete games, and nine complete shutouts before taking the mound on Saturday. His extended career also included stints with the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants.
Conversely, Ben Verlander spent his career battling through minor league affiliates without securing an MLB promotion. Over 422 minor league contests, he accumulated solid offensive totals while working through the Tigers system.
| Metric | Career Detail |
|---|---|
| Justin Verlander Draft Position | 2nd Overall (2004, Detroit Tigers) |
| Justin Verlander Career MLB Games | 556 (Prior to final start) |
| Justin Verlander Complete Games | 26 |
| Justin Verlander Shutouts | 9 |
| Justin Verlander Other Franchises | Astros, Mets, Giants |
| Ben Verlander Minor League Games | 422 |
| Ben Verlander Minor League Hits | 343 |
| Ben Verlander Minor League Extra-Base Hits | 68 Doubles, 7 Triples, 18 HRs |
| Ben Verlander Minor League RBIs | 176 |
The shared tenure in Detroit cemented the family name into Tigers franchise history across both development and championship-level competition.
💡 Justin Verlander closes out two decades of dominant professional pitching where it all began.
🔍 From high draft expectations in 2004 to his final pitch against Pittsburgh, his numbers establish an unforgettable benchmark.
👇 Leave your thoughts in the comments below on where you rank Verlander among all-time Detroit Tigers pitching greats.
