The decision ends a 21-year career that includes three Cy Young Awards, two World Series championships and an MVP trophy.
The 43-year-old veteran Tigers pitcher, who happens to be the oldest player active in Major League Baseball, made this decision right after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred selected him as a “Legend Pick” for the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
Verlander said in a statement: “I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number or a date on the calendar. I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come.”
“While I am fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I have decided that this will be my last. It is only fitting that I get to finish where it all started, with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity,” he added.
This season has been tough for Verlander as he has been plagued by numerous injuries, including hip inflammation and a hamstring strain during a bullpen session.
He admitted: “This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally. I always believed that as long as I could compete at the level I expect of myself, I would keep playing.”
He is eighth all-time with 3,554 strikeouts in 3,571 1⁄3 innings and has a career record of 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA.
