Justin Verlander made his major league finale on Saturday, exiting in the sixth inning after his 7-year-old daughter Genevieve sprinted to the mound in a surprise orchestrated by Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch.
Verlander had just retired the leadoff batter when Hinch walked from the dugout. Genevieve, wearing a Tigers jersey with her father's name and No. 35, ran to her dad. On the mound, she hugged Verlander, who embraced her and began shaking. Hinch joined them about 25 seconds later, followed by Verlander's teammates.
Verlander described the moment as completely blindsiding him. "It hit me like a ton of bricks," he said. He later noted he was "sobbing and had to make sure that she understood I was happy," adding she had never seen him cry that way.
Hinch planned the surprise with Verlander's wife, model Kate Upton. He said Verlander is difficult to surprise, as he has "everything planned and mapped out more than any human I've ever been around." Hinch wanted "something special" that recognized Verlander's deep family connection.
Verlander walked off grasping Genevieve's hand while receiving a standing ovation from the Comerica Park crowd. Upton, holding their 1-year-old son Bellamy, joined them for a group hug in front of the dugout. Verlander high-fived teammates and doffed his cap before descending the dugout steps with his family.
The surprise resulted in a 5½-minute delay before reliever Tyler Kinley threw his first pitch.
Verlander's 21-season career includes 10 All-Star selections and three American League Cy Young Awards. Hinch managed him to a World Series title with the Houston Astros in 2017.
A sore hip and hamstring injury limited Verlander this season. This was only his second start of the year, and his first since March 30. He allowed two runs and five hits in 5⅓ innings, with one walk and six strikeouts on 91 pitches.
Hinch said Verlander "didn't want a cameo" but a "competitive outing." The manager observed Verlander "wasn't laboring" in the third and fourth innings, concluding that the pitcher "certainly left us with a reminder of why he's one of the best of all time."
The Tigers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3.
Verlander reflected on his retirement: "I've obviously talked a lot about how my life has changed and how my family is what I'm looking forward to most in my retirement. Walking off the field with them to end my career is as good as I could have dreamed."
