Detroit Tigers star Justin Verlander was one proud papa before Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Verlander was not scheduled to pitch during the contest, with the final start of his career slated for a day later at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich. His 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, was the one who took the mound for the game’s ceremonial first pitch.
Genevieve threw a perfect strike over the plate as his dad served as her catcher. The 3-time Cy Young Award winner celebrated the strike as if he had just won another World Series ring.
She's got her dad's arm 😮💨
— MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2026
Justin Verlander's daughter Genevieve tossed a perfect first pitch! pic.twitter.com/69ZhTg8uj5
With Justin Verlander set to retire at season’s end, perhaps Genevieve could choose to don the pitching mantle for the Verlander family from now on.
“It’s been awesome. We’ve been practicing,” Verlander said beforehand, via MLB.com’s Jason Beck. “She’s all pumped up about it. We actually came out here to the field and practiced off the mound one day. I asked her, ‘Where do you want to go? You want to go to the mound?’ And she’s like, ‘The mound.’ I’m like, ‘That’s my girl.’
The practice clearly paid off for the Verlander father and son.
Justin will be the one on the mound Saturday as he caps off a legendary career wearing the same Tigers uniform he wore when he debuted all the way back in 2005.
