Astros pitcher Justin Verlander dispels retirement rumors

After speculation of a retirement spread, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander took to Twitter to knock down the idea he’s hanging up his cleats.

No, Justin Verlander isn’t retiring.

The idea of the Astros pitcher bowing out emerged on Twitter on Friday after Verlander announced an afternoon Zoom call with the media.

When a 38-year-old ballplayer who is coming back from Tommy John surgery schedules a media call, it often ends that way.

It turns out this call was just a basic injury update from Verlander.

“Lol…. Man y’all are crazy. I’m not retiring! I was asked to do a zoom call to give updates to the media,” Verlander tweeted. “Sooooo here’s the update. I’m feeling awesome and plan on still pitching for a long time.”

In the call, Verlander said he still loves the game of baseball.

“I still have so much passion for it and I’m still playing to the wheels fall off,” he said per Kristie Rieken of AP Sports.

Justin Verlander plans to keep playing after Tommy John surgery

Verlander is in his 18th season in the big leagues, but he’s only pitched once since his Cy Young season with the Astros in 2019. A strained forearm put him on the injured list and he ultimately ended his season by undergoing Tommy John surgery.

His recovery from that surgery has progressed, but there is no timetable for his return.

The eight-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young winner managed to revive his career after being traded to Houston in 2017.

Coincidentally, the retirement rumors cropped up on the anniversary of Verlander’s no-hitter for the Tigers in 2011. He allowed just one walk against the Blue Jays on that day, coming that close to a perfect game. It was the second no-hitter of his career.