2013 information guide - MLB.com
2013 information guide - MLB.com
2013 information guide - MLB.com
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<strong>2013</strong> TIGERS<br />
JUSTIN<br />
VERLANDER<br />
Born: February 20, 1983 Opening Day Age: 30<br />
Birthplace: Manakin-Sabot, VA Residence: Lakeland, FL<br />
Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6-5/225<br />
Major League Service: 7.002 Signed Through: 2014<br />
How Obtained: Selected by the Tigers in the first round (second overall) of<br />
the June 2004 draft<br />
RIGHTHANDED PITCHER - 35<br />
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS<br />
The <strong>2013</strong> season will mark Verlander’s eighth full season at the major league level with the Tigers...marks the fourth<br />
year of a five-year contract he agreed to terms on with the club on February 4, 2010.<br />
• Selected the American League Most Valuable Player and he was unanimously named the American League Cy Young<br />
Award winner in 2011 -- became the 10th pitcher in major league history to win both the Most Valuable Player and Cy<br />
Young Awards during the same season...joined Don New<strong>com</strong>be (1956), Sandy Koufax (1963), Bob Gibson (1968),<br />
Denny McLain (1968), Vida Blue (1971), Rollie Fingers (1981), Guillermo Hernandez (1984), Rogers Clemens (1986)<br />
and Dennis Eckersley (1992)...joined New<strong>com</strong>be to be<strong>com</strong>e only the second player in history to win the Most Valuable<br />
Player, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year Awards...New<strong>com</strong>be was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1949 and<br />
he earned both the National League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Awards in 1956.<br />
• Tabbed the American League Rookie of the Year with the Tigers in 2006.<br />
• Five-time American League all-star selection with the Tigers (2007, 2009-12).<br />
• Earned American League Pitcher of the Month honors with the Tigers in May of 2009, June of 2011 and September of<br />
2012 -- joined Jack Morris as the only two pitchers in club history to earn the honor multiple times...Morris was tabbed<br />
the American League Pitcher of the Month in both August of 1983 and April of 1984.<br />
• Selected American League Player of the Week six times during his career.<br />
• Named the American League Rookie of the Month with the Tigers in May of 2006.<br />
• Topped the American League with 239 strikeouts during the 2012 season -- led the American League in strikeouts in<br />
both 2011 and 2012 to be<strong>com</strong>e the first Tigers pitcher to lead the league in strikeouts in back-to-back seasons since<br />
Jim Bunning did so in 1959 and 1960.<br />
• Led all American League pitchers with 24 wins, a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts during the 2011 season to be<strong>com</strong>e just<br />
the second Tigers pitcher to ever lead all three categories in a single season -- Hal Newhouser ac<strong>com</strong>plished the feat<br />
for the Tigers in 1945...he became the the first pitcher to lead the American League in all three categories since<br />
Minnesota’s Johan Santana did so in 2006.<br />
• Topped the American League with 269 strikeouts for the Tigers in 2009 to be<strong>com</strong>e the first Tigers pitcher to lead the<br />
league in strikeouts since Jack Morris did so in 1983 with 232 strikeouts...his total of 269 strikeouts marks the fifthhighest<br />
single-season total in Tigers history.<br />
• His 269 strikeouts for the Tigers in 2009 led all major league pitchers and he became the fourth Tigers pitcher to lead<br />
the majors in strikeouts, joining Hal Newhouser (1944 and 1945), Virgil Trucks (1949) and Mickey Lolich (1971).<br />
• Selected to participate in the Futures Game held prior to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in 2005.<br />
• Fired the first no-hitter in Comerica Park history on June 12, 2007 versus Milwaukee...sixth no-hitter in Tigers history.<br />
• Tossed the second no-hitter of his career on May 7, 2011 at Toronto, the seventh no-hitter in Tigers history -- joined<br />
Virgil Trucks as the only two pitchers in Tigers history with multiple no-hitters...Trucks threw two no-hitters for the Tigers<br />
during the 1952 season...according to STATS LLC, he became the 27th pitcher to record two career no-hitters in the<br />
American or National League.<br />
• Tabbed the Tigers Opening Day starter five times in his career by Jim Leyland -- March 31, 2008 versus Kansas City,<br />
April 6, 2009 at Toronto, April 5, 2010 at Kansas City, March 31, 2011 at New York’s Yankee Stadium and April 5, 2012<br />
versus Boston...became the first Tigers pitcher to start five consecutive Opening Days since Jack Morris started 11<br />
straight (1980-90).<br />
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS<br />
Selected to the American League’s all-star squad for the fifth time in his career as he <strong>com</strong>pleted his seventh full season<br />
at the major league level with the Tigers in 2012 -- selected to start for the American League during the All-Star Game in<br />
Kansas City...marked the 10th time a Tigers pitcher has been selected to start the game.<br />
<strong>2013</strong> DETROIT TIGERS INFORMATION GUIDE 211<br />
<strong>2013</strong> TIGERS
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