HOUSTON, TX — Astros All-Star right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander has been named the 2022 American League Comeback Player of the Year. Verlander becomes the first Astros player to take home this award. The Comeback Player of the Year Awards are officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball and have been presented annually since 2005 to one player in each league who has re-emerged on the field during the season. The 30 club beat reporters from MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, selected the winners from an original list of 30 candidates (one per MLB club). 

The 2022 Cy Young Award winner had another magical year in what was his first season back in nearly two years following Tommy John surgery. Verlander had a dominant season in 2022, leading the AL in wins (18), ERA (1.75), WHIP (0.83), opponent OPS (.497), opponent average (.186) , opponent slugging percentage (.297) and hits per nine innings (5.97). He finished the season with a 1.75 ERA, which is the lowest posted by an Astros pitcher in a full season in club history, besting Roger Clemens, who worked to a 1.87 ERA in 2005. Additionally, Verlander’s ERA is the lowest posted by an AL pitcher in a full season since Red Sox starter Pedro Martinez had a 1.74 ERA in his Cy Young season of 2000. His ERA was also the third-lowest in the AL since divisional play began in 1969.

The 39-year-old was the ultimate stopper for the Astros this season. In his 12 starts following an Astros loss, he went 9-0 with a 1.11 ERA (9ER/73IP).