What Justin Verlander said about returning to Detroit Tigers after 8+ years apart

TAMPA, Fla. – Detroit Tigers legend and future National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Justin Verlander was introduced by the organization as he returns to the team following his over eight-year departure.

Verlander, 42, spent 13 seasons with the Tigers from 2005-2017, before he was traded midseason to play alongside manager A.J. Hinch and the Houston Astros.

The Tigers said they see a great opportunity to win this season and believe Verlander can contribute both on and off the field.

Nostalgia

Verlander reflected on the nostalgia and competitive balance of returning to Detroit.

“I grew up in front of the fans in Detroit. I was 21 years old when I got here in Lakeland for the first time,” Verlander said.

Verlander recalled how Detroit kept coming to his mind after last season ended, prompting him to reach out to the Tigers’ leadership to express his intentions.

Initially, Verlander did not expect a spot on the team.

“At first, there didn’t seem like there was much room for me,” Verlander said.

But some recent changes opened the door, and he is happy to wear the Old English D again.

Despite his many accomplishments, including a Cy Young Award and World Series title, Verlander said, “I don’t pitch for accolades. I pride myself on taking the ball, trying to be healthy, going out there every five days and giving us the best chance to win.”

What remains missing from his resume is a World Series title with Detroit.

“I had a couple shots at that I really regret not achieving,” Verlander said.

Verlander admires the current ownership and is excited to be part of a World Series-caliber team with a winning mindset.

He described the emotions of returning to the Tigers’ facilities as surreal, noting many upgrades and new faces.

“Coming back here was interesting, and it kind of brought back a lot of memories and emotions,” Verlander said.

Verlander also spoke about pitching alongside fellow ace Tarik Skubal.

“I’m excited to see him work and learn from him,” Verlander said, emphasizing the value of learning from great players.

Tigers tenure

With Detroit, JV won 183 games while posting a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 2,511 innings, accompanied by 2,373 strikeouts.

Verlander was a six-time All-Star during his time with the Tigers, winning the 2011 American League Cy Young Award and the Most Valuable Player Award.

Under Hinch’s tutelage, Verlander took his Hall of Fame career to another level, winning two World Series rings and posting a 2.71 ERA, 0.918 Whip in just 810.1 innings.

Last season, Verlander got off to a rough start, going 0-8 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP with the New York Mets, but from July 23 onward, he posted a 2.60 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP while striking out 70 batters in 72.2 innings.

Longevity

Regarding his longevity, Verlander said he has always aimed to pitch until age 45.

“Age isn’t really something I think about all too often,” Verlander said, though he now monitors his offseason routine differently to prolong his career. “I think I still recover really well. I move really well. It is something that I take into consideration, particularly in the offseason, to make some adjustments from lifting heavy weights and a lot of things that I need to monitor now.”

Verlander said he’s had conversations with older athletes who gave him some dos and don’ts, including from a Michigan Wolverines legend.

“I talked to Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, guys who have done things at the top of their games for a long time, and you can learn things from them like how to prolong your career a little longer or things that they regret doing,” Verlander said.

Verlander credited his improved velocity last season to being healthy and making mechanical adjustments.

He likened it to a similar breakthrough in 2017 before his trade to Houston.

Tigers doubt

Verlander admitted he once doubted if the Tigers would be competitive again during his career, especially after his neck injury. But recent years have changed that outlook.

He reflected on the deep connection between the Tigers and Detroit fans, especially during tough times in the city.

“To buy a ticket and come to a ballgame was a huge expense for a lot of those fans, but it was also a getaway and something to celebrate,” Verlander said.

Fatherhood

Verlander shared how becoming a father changed his perspective, helping him be more present on and off the field.

His daughter is still young and not yet nostalgic about Detroit, but he hopes she will create lasting memories here.

He also discussed how personal growth has improved his communication and leadership with teammates.

“That mindset I talked about earlier wasn’t really conducive to being the best teammate when I was younger,” Verlander said.

Now, he proactively supports and connects with others.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, Verlander aims to reach 300 career wins but acknowledges the challenge.

“I’m going to go out, do everything I can to pitch successfully, give us a chance to win, hopefully log a lot of wins,” Verlander said.

Verlander is 37th all-time in total wins with 266, so if he’s able to stay healthy and can finish this season strong, he may return next season as well.

“Last year made it difficult, only getting four,” Verlander said, acknowledging the challenge ahead.

Looking forward, he said, if something catastrophic were to happen, he wouldn’t want to go through major surgery and rehab again.

Instead, his plan is to go out, pitch successfully, give the team a chance to win, and hopefully log many wins by taking the ball 30-plus times.

“Let the chips fall where they may,” Verlander said.

If he feels well and can do it again, he plans to “rinse and repeat.”

Reconnection

He described reconnecting with former members of the organization as catching up with an old friend and looks forward to building strong relationships with the Tigers’ pitching staff.

Verlander praised Tigers managers Jim Leyland and Hinch for balancing friendship with players and leadership, calling it a difficult but important dynamic.

“The hardest thing for a manager to do is to cultivate a relationship where you feel like they’re your friends, but you also know they’re still the boss,” Verlander said. “I think that’s really hard to navigate.”

He praised both men for doing it incredibly well, noting they approach it differently but with the same mindset.

“That was a great question and something that has stuck out to me,” Verlander added.

Building new bond

When asked if former Astros teammate and current Tigers teammate Framber Valdez was asleep, Verlander quickly clarified, “No, he’s awake.”

He expressed appreciation for his teammates showing up and supporting each other.

“Showing up for each other is half the battle,” he said. Verlander noted that pitchers spend more time together during the season than with their families, and early signs of support help build strong friendships and relationships within the staff. “We feed off one another and tend to hang out more than the rest of the team because we have similar schedules,” Verlander said.

Verlander believes this pitching staff has the potential to be one of the best he’s been part of.

“I sit here and look at these guys, and this definitely has the opportunity to be one of the better staffs I’ve been a part of, and I’ve been part of some really good ones,” Verlander said.

New habits

He also detailed how embracing analytics transformed his pitching approach, especially during his time in Houston.

“They showed me data that proved my four-seam fastball was elite and my two-seam was average, so I stopped throwing that,” Verlander jokingly said.

Finally, Verlander joked about getting rid of some old routines, saying, “I’m all full of routines, but nothing crazy at Taco Bell now.”