Justin Verlander is absolutely eyeing one last start for the Detroit Tigers before he hangs up his cleats for good, and get this, he was reportedly letting it rip off the mound on Saturday, throwing harder than he has all season. The Tigers are still riding high after sweeping the Rockies this past weekend, and the buzz around Verlander’s potential farewell performance is huge.
Verlander’s Last Dance is Real
It looks like we could actually see Justin Verlander make one final start this season before he officially retires. The guy threw off the mound just this past Saturday, and word is he was firing the ball harder than at any other point all year. Manager A.J. Hinch is clearly hoping Verlander will be primed and ready to go for his celebratory retirement weekend later this month, at the end of September. Hinch put it straight, saying, “We’re aiming for that weekend, which we know will be an emotional and important weekend for him.” To get him fully prepped, Verlander will likely throw either a bullpen session or a simulated game in the coming weeks. Seriously, the Tigers and Verlander seem totally locked in on making sure he gets that last trip to the mound before he walks off the field one final time. Talk about an exit!
New Family Members and Fan Celebrations
Beyond the Verlander news, the Tigers had some other stuff popping off. Big congrats go out to Keider Montero, who just welcomed a new family member! The Tigers put the right-handed pitcher on the paternity list, which is awesome news for him and his family. He even shared a super “lovely message” and letter, showing his pride for both Venezuela and Detroit. To fill his spot, the Tigers called up left-hander Andrew Sears from Triple-A Toledo. And it wasn’t all just roster moves either. The Tigers also held their ¡Fiesta Tigres! celebration for Hispanic Heritage. They honored Gleyber Torres, and his son, Ethan, even threw out the honorary first pitch to his dad. How cool is that? It’s always good to see those moments of community and family in the game.
It wasn’t all good news though. Former Detroit Tiger Jonathan Schoop was sentenced to 30 months for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. On the league-wide front, baseball fans are tracking Pete Crow-Armstrong’s push for NL MVP, and Teoscar Hernandez is absolutely crushing it for the Dodgers, with his revival coming at just the right time. Plus, people are still talking about the decline of starting innings across the league and what that means for the future of pitching.
As for the Tigers, they’ve got those good vibes from the Rockies sweep to carry them forward. With Verlander’s emotional send-off potentially on the horizon at the end of September, there’s a massive moment to look forward to.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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