After missing almost two full seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery, Justin Verlander came back with a bang in 2022.
Returning to the Houston Astros on a one-year deal, the veteran right-hander went 18-4 with an MLB best 1.75 ERA in 28 starts.
Now a free agent once again, Verlander has a chance to cash in on a large contract.
He is the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award after such a dominant season, and if he wins it, he’ll make some history.
Verlander was obviously out for all of 2021 as a result of his Tommy John surgery.
Verlander would become the first pitcher in baseball history to win a Cy Young Award after not having pitched a single inning the season before.
Justin Verlander did not pitch in 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery
No pitcher has ever won Cy Young after throwing 0 MLB IP the year prior
The current fewest innings is 17 ⅔, by Fernando Valenzuela in 1980 before becoming the only rookie CYA winner in 1981
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) November 13, 2022
JV Set For History
The current fewest innings a Cy Young Award winner has thrown in the season prior is Fernando Valenzuela, who threw 17.2 innings in 1980 before becoming the first ever rookie to win the award in 1981.
Verlander will be 40 years old next season.
Yet even in his advanced age, he has found a way to bounce back from Tommy John surgery and continue to pitch like an ace, which is why he is sure to garner a large paycheck with whichever team signs him this offseason.
Despite his advanced age and having not thrown a single inning in 2021, Verlander is back to his old self and has the chance to make some history in the process.
Verlander won Game 5 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in what could have been his final start as an Astro.
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