This week, Justin Verlander celebrated his 41st birthday. The veteran, winner of three Cy Young trophies, will soon begin a 19th season in the major leagues.
Well at home in the Houston Astros locker room, following a brief stint in the New York Mets uniform, Verlander wants to distance himself from rumors that he has a diva attitude.
A former teammate in New York, wishing to remain anonymous, would have described him as such.
Verlander refutes this allegation and calls himself a good team player, although he looks back on his early days with the Tigers in Detroit where he was focused on his performances in order to become the pitcher he is today and that gave him perhaps lost the respect of some players at the time.
MVP in the American in 2011, in the uniform of the Tigers, Verlander had won 24 victories that year and already he dreamed of following in the footsteps of his idol Nolan Ryan, also a power pitcher who took his trade at the venerable age of 46 years.
Having won the World Series and so many individual honors demonstrates a certain talent and that comes with the consideration of fans and the media. Fame has a price, that of believing oneself above everything and having an attitude that is embarrassing to those around you. Fortunately, this is not the case for all exceptional athletes.
The gunner considers that he has never crossed this line while maintaining the respect of his teammates at all times.
Asked about his relationship with another high-quality pitcher, Max Scherzer, Verlander admits that their years in Detroit were not always easy, but that their brief reunion with the Mets in 2023 had a bringing together effect between the two men .
Even though the signing of the two veterans by Steve Cohen turned sour, Verlander's focus remains the same, which is to perform as long as possible. He had already said he wanted to throw until age 45, but if health allows, he could join and even surpass his idol Ryan in terms of longevity.
Generally, players who believe they are bigger than their sport don't last long, because they are quickly identified and end up excluding themselves. It's hard to believe that an athlete like Verlander would have lasted this long wearing the diva label. Yes he is good and he has attitude, but you have to be different to perform for so long in a sport that is played every day and while occupying a very difficult position on a physical level.
For the moment, Justin Verlander is focused on next season and his goal is to stay healthy once the season begins. Remember that in 2023, in New York, his start to the calendar ended with a stay on the injured list and his season subsequently suffered. He finally headed to Houston during the trade period to join his former teammates. The Dodgers and Orioles had also inquired about the veteran, but he said he was happy with the outcome.
