SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- As he prepares for his 20th season in the Majors, Justin Verlander will be learning to navigate something new: his first Spring Training in Arizona.
A veteran of Florida’s Grapefruit League, Verlander will get his first taste of Cactus League action after joining the Giants on a one-year, $15 million deal last month.
“I just got here yesterday,” Verlander said prior to the first workout for Giants pitchers and catchers at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday. “I’m just lonely right now. I really don’t know any of the guys. That’ll be the adjustment, kind of getting to know the lay of the land.”
“I didn’t even realize he’s never been out here,” said left-hander Robbie Ray, who played with Verlander in Detroit in 2014. “I was talking to him, and I was like, ‘Camelback Mountain.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, I know the mountain, but I have no idea where it’s at.’”
The number on the back of his new Giants uniform will be familiar, at least, as Verlander will wear his usual No. 35, a decision that didn’t come lightly considering its deep ties to franchise icon Brandon Crawford. Verlander expressed some consternation about sticking with the number when he first signed with the Giants, but Crawford gave his blessing for the three-time Cy Young winner to wear it after the two spoke over the phone.
“I just wanted to make sure I went about it the right way,” Verlander said. “Getting his blessing was really important.”
Verlander has long donned No. 35 in honor of his childhood idol, Hall of Fame slugger Frank Thomas, and said he couldn’t imagine himself wearing another number as he continues his push for historic milestones like his 300th career win.
“Having [president of baseball operations] Buster [Posey] say, ‘Wouldn’t it be something if you could win your 300th game in a Giants uniform?’ is just something that stuck in my head,” Verlander said. “I was talking to my wife, and I was like, ‘What if that happens?’ If that does happen, I can't see myself wearing any other number than 35.”
Verlander, who will turn 42 on Feb. 20, is sitting on 262 career wins and could be the last pitcher to have a realistic shot at joining the exclusive 300-win club for a long time. A productive season with the Giants could help nudge him closer to that goal, and Verlander certainly has high hopes for himself now that he feels he’s past the neck and shoulder injuries that hampered him in 2024.
“I feel like this for sure is the best I’ve felt in the last few years,” Verlander said. “'22 was the last time I had a healthy ramp up. The last couple of years have just been a pain in the neck. I feel good.”
Verlander recorded a career-worst 5.48 ERA over 17 starts for the Astros last year, but he’s only two seasons removed from his third Cy Young Award in 2022, when he went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA over 175 innings. He said he learned a lot from dealing with his recent spate of injuries and believes he’s made the necessary adjustments to stay healthy and perform again this year.
“When I was trying to fix these mechanical issues, it was almost impossible for me because my body was holding me back,” Verlander said. “Now that I'm moving more the way I want, I’m excited to see how that translates to the mound. The benefits I’ve seen in my bullpen sessions have been phenomenal, so I’m the most optimistic I’ve been in a few years.”
Verlander was already up to 92 mph in his offseason bullpens and said he felt great while throwing 50 pitches in his latest session on the mound. He’s expected to join Logan Webb and Ray in the front end of the Giants’ rotation and could bring even more value by helping to mentor young starters like Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp this year.
“He’s just one of those guys that defies Father Time and has done it for a long time,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Part of it is who he is as a pitcher and the confidence that he has. He certainly should have confidence based on his career. I think that’s unwavering for him as far as what he feels like he can do on a baseball field. If he’s healthy -- even some of the starts you saw last year were very productive. We’re really counting on him. He knows it.”