Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander recalls final showdowns with David Ortiz, Derek Jeter

The top players in MLB are descending on Philadelphia for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander was recently named a Legends pick to the All-Star Game. After the announcement of his All-Star nod, Verlander announced that he is calling it a career.

On Monday, Verlander got to sit on the pre-Home Run Derby show with David Ortiz and Derek Jeter. He also got to relive facing Ortiz and Jeter before they retired.

“Your last season, you got that last at-bat, you and I got to face off. I threw you a heater up and in. You just missed it. You hit a 700-foot pop-up. You looked at me. I was walking off the mound. You looked at me, we made eye contact, and we knew. Like ‘I got you, barely, but I got you.’ and that was fun,” Verlander said, addressing Ortiz.

“Then Jeet, I know you remember, your last season, I came up and asked you if I could just get anything from the game, game-used. First at-bat, fastball in, shattered your bat, and you’re running down the first base line, yelling at me, ‘that’s why I’m retiring.’ After the game, you sent me the bat. You had it all taped up, probably bad on purpose. So that bat comes over, all taped up, ‘to Justin, this is why I’m retiring, Derek Jeter.'”

While Verlander got the last laugh on both stars, Ortiz did have success against Verlander. He was 12 for 35 with two home runs and four RBIs against the Cy Young-winning pitcher. Jeter was just as solid. He was 14 for 36 with four walks and a home run against the star pitcher. Still, Verlander had plenty of great moments in his MLB career.  While he will not be pitching on Tuesday night at the All-Star game, he will be recognized as he finished his last season with the Tigers. Then, his next stop will be Cooperstown, New York, when Verlander is ultimately inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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