Justin Verlander has spent more than two decades throwing baseballs from Major League mounds. On Friday night, he got to experience the other side of it.
During the Tigers’ career celebration for Verlander at Comerica Park, his 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. Her catcher was her dad. The ceremony came one day before Verlander was scheduled to make the 557th and final start of his career against the Pirates.
And she delivered.
Genevieve threw a strike from the mound to Verlander, who celebrated behind the plate before grabbing her up in a bear hug, a huge smile on his face. It was a fitting role reversal during a weekend devoted to saying goodbye to one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. And the timing made the father-daughter moment even sweeter: Friday was National Daughters Day.
“That’s My Girl”
The moment had been in the works for a while.
Verlander said before the ceremony that he and Genevieve had been practicing, including a trip to Comerica Park to throw from the mound. When he asked whether she wanted to move closer or pitch from the mound, she chose the mound.
“That’s my girl,” Verlander said.
More meaningful to Verlander has been Genevieve’s growing interest in playing catch with him at home. He said she has recently begun asking him to grab a baseball and play with her in the backyard—something he has never pushed her to do.
If Verlander keeps throwing after his career ends, those may be the catches that matter most.
A Familiar Face to Astros Fans
For Astros fans, Verlander’s farewell carries plenty of history of its own.
Houston acquired him from Detroit in August 2017, and his six-plus years in an Astros uniform became part of the most successful era in franchise history. Across two stints with Houston, Verlander helped the Astros win the 2017 and 2022 World Series, won the AL Cy Young Award in 2019 and 2022, threw his third career no-hitter, and recorded his 3,000th career strikeout. He went 73-28 with a 2.71 ERA in 130 regular-season starts for Houston.
Verlander returned to Detroit for his final season in 2026, bringing his career back to where it began. His final start is scheduled for Saturday afternoon against Pittsburgh at Comerica Park.
Verlander will take the mound one last time Saturday. On Friday night, it belonged to Genevieve.
And Dad was waiting behind the plate.
Looking for your favorite Astros player’s music? Check out the complete Houston Astros Walk-Up Songs for 2026.
.jpg){kind=link}