LAKELAND, FL – Justin Verlander walked into the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse at the TigerTown complex wearing a tan-colored outfit, coffee in hand, and ready for the first day of pitcher and catcher workouts Wednesday, Feb. 11, in spring training.
He introduced himself to the unfamiliar faces nearby as he settled in, then eventually changed into his baseball gear.
The Old English "D" still looks good on him.
It didn't take long for Kenley Jansen to stroll by Verlander's locker. They're going to be in the Hall of Fame together one day. For now, Jansen is MLB's active saves leader, while Verlander is the active wins leader.
A handshake between them evolved into a one-armed hug with a pat on the back – and then came the most memorable moment of the day.
"I don't think I'm the oldest anymore," Jansen said.
"How old are you?" Verlander responded.
"I'm 38," Jansen said.
"You have five more years!" said Verlander, who turns 43 on Feb. 20.
They laughed and smiled.
Just two future Hall of Fame teammates enjoying their first day on the job for the Tigers, both on one-year contracts for the 2026 season.
This is Verlander's first spring training in TigerTown since 2017. He pitched for the Tigers from 2005-17 before being traded to the Houston Astros on Aug. 31, 2017, which was one of the first moves in the Tigers' rebuild.
"I'm excited to see him here in this clubhouse, and I'm excited to be here for the first time," Jansen said. "It's going to be fun. I'm already feeling it. We're excited to get going."
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Justin Verlander supports Framber Valdez
Everyone wanted to talk to Verlander.
But Verlander chose not to talk to any reporters – not yet. He shook hands and engaged in small talk, but he didn't share any insight about his decision to return to the Tigers after more than eight years away.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow," Verlander said.
Why not today?
Because Verlander didn't want to steal the spotlight from Valdez, whom the Tigers introduced after Wednesday's first workout in a family-filled press conference in the premium "34 Club" at Joker Marchant Stadium.
As Valdez's father, mother, brother, wife and children watched on, Verlander wanted him to have his moment.
Three minutes before the press conference, the fellow starters in the Tigers' rotation – Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Verlander, listed in order of their entrance – walked in, showing their support of Valdez joining the Tigers.
"It makes me feel great that they took time out of their day to be with me here," Valdez said in Spanish, interpreted by Octagon agent Ulises Cabrera. "I hope to be a contributing member of that group. A rising tide raises all boats. For them to be there, they're best in class."
When is Justin Verlander's press conference?
Don't worry.
The Tigers are going to introduce Verlander.
There will be a press conference at 8:15 a.m. Thursday in the 34 Club – just like Wednesday's pageantry for Valdez.
"We know how he fits in this city and organization, but we wanted him to know how he fits on this team and how he can help us win," said president of baseball operations Scott Harris, who signed Verlander on Tuesday to a one-year, $13 million contract. "That's where I think we really hit it off. He has some unfinished business in Detroit. We want to win, too."
"That's a big addition in a lot of ways," said manager A.J. Hinch, who managed Verlander from 2017-19 with the Astros. "My focus with him was entirely on what he can do to help us win on the mound. When he gets in front of you guys tomorrow, he will share his emotions and feelings."
Justin Verlander plays catch
During Wednesday's workout, Verlander went through a series of drills that included stretches and pitcher fielding practice. He seemed comfortable around his new teammates.
The 20-year MLB veteran put his glove on and played catch with bullpen catcher Tim Remes, one of the few remaining holdovers from Verlander's first stint with the Tigers. He joined the Tigers as their bullpen catcher in 2018, less than one year after the Tigers traded Verlander on Aug. 31, 2017.
But Remes played in the Tigers' organization before joining the coaching staff, including with Verlander's brother, Ben Verlander, throughout the entire 2015 season in Low-A Lakeland.
Verlander and Remes discussed the cutting action on one of Verlander's pitch types as they played catch.
It was like two mechanics fine-tuning an engine.
Eventually, Verlander was joined by Skubal, Valdez and Flaherty.
All four played catch at the same time.
They talked like old friends afterward.
"We go back to 2017 in Houston," said Valdez, a teammate of Verlander from 2018-24 with the Astros. "When I was coming up, I used him as a role model. He was a guide for me on how to handle my time between starts with the seriousness that he takes to every start."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon during the season and Tuesday afternoon during the offseason on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
For (spring) openers: Yankees
Matchup: Tigers (87-75 in 2025) at N.Y. Yankees (94-68 in 2025), Grapefruit League opener.
First pitch: 1:10 p.m. Feb. 21; George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida.
TV/radio: None.
Regular-season opener: March 26, 4:10 p.m.; at San Diego Padres, Petco Park.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander fits right in with Tigers on Day 1 of spring training