Justin Verlander ends 21-season career with emotional Tigers farewell

Justin Verlander made his final major league appearance for the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, ending a 21-season career with six strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates and an emotional farewell at Comerica Park. According to an Associated Press report published by The Guardian, the 43-year-old right-hander left the field holding his seven-year-old daughter's hand after being replaced in the sixth inning.

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Verlander gave up two runs on five hits across 5 1/3 innings, walking one batter and throwing 91 pitches. It was only his second start of the season and his first since March 30, with a sore hip and a hamstring injury having disrupted his year. Pittsburgh's runs came from solo home runs by Brandon Lowe in the fourth inning and Nick Gonzales in the fifth.

The farewell began after Lowe hit a foul popup to open the sixth. Tigers manager AJ Hinch walked out from the dugout and gestured towards the seats, prompting Genevieve Verlander to run to the mound in a jersey bearing her father's name and number. Verlander bent down to hug her and began crying. Hinch then embraced them before Detroit teammates gathered around the pitcher.

The crowd stood to applaud as Verlander walked off with Genevieve. His wife, Kate Upton, joined them near the dugout while holding their one-year-old son, Bellamy. Verlander acknowledged the spectators and greeted teammates before going down the dugout steps with his family. The interruption lasted five and a half minutes before reliever Tyler Kinley delivered his first pitch, AP reported.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner and 10-time All-Star, Verlander finished with a career ERA of 3.33 and 3,560 strikeouts, placing him eighth on the career strikeout list. He had entered the game with 266 wins and 159 losses. His Tigers debut came on July 4, 2005, before Pittsburgh's 20-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin, who batted fifth on Saturday, was born.

Detroit had marked the occasion even before the first pitch. Actor and Tigers supporter JK Simmons announced Verlander in the starting lineup, while fans applauded his trips to and from the bullpen. His teammates remained in the dugout when he initially took the field, allowing him to receive another ovation on his own.