Justin Verlander’s Daughter Genevieve Surprises Him During Final Game

The 10-time MLB All-Star announced he’d be retiring from baseball in July.

“I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar,” he wrote in a July 8 Instagram statement. “I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come.”

And while he also thanked his professional colleagues who got him to where he is today, Justin also gave his wife of eight years a tender shoutout.  

“To my family, especially my wife Kate, thank you for standing beside me through every season, every rehab, and every high and low,” he continued. “I couldn’t have done this without you. It’s time for the next chapter.”

And now that Justin has taken his final bow on the field, he couldn’t have asked for a better sendoff.

“The way it went, with Genevieve running out, I mean, I had no clue [it was going to happen],” Justin said after Detroit’s 4-3 walk-off win against Pittsburgh, per MLB. “I was totally blindsided, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. That was amazing.”

“I was sobbing and I had to tell her, just to make sure she understood, I was happy,” he said. “She’s never seen me cry like that.”

As for what made the moment so emotional for the dad of two?

“I’ve been a baseball player since I was 5 years old,” he explained. “I mean, I gave everything for this.”

“I left home. She’s in school, and I wasn’t there,” he said of his daughter through tears. “There’s just a level of commitment it takes to be great at something. And I hope she understands she means the world to me. My family means the world to me. And I’m just so happy that I get the opportunity to make up for lost time.”

Keep reading for more stars and their mini-me kids…