Justin Verlander started his final Major League Baseball game on Saturday, and when the 43-year-old came off the mound, he was surprised by his 7-year-old daughter Genevive. Tony Dokoupil has the story.

Verlander entered the fifth inning already pushing well beyond anything he had done during his abbreviated buildup. He gave up a two-out home run to Jacob Gonzalez, then consecutive singles to Henry Davis and Ryan O’Hearn.

Verlander fought through a hamstring injury to will this start it into existence, the same way he did much of his Hall of Fame career.

For the 595th and final time, Justin Verlander toed a major-league mound Saturday afternoon. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer, returning from the hip and hamstring injuries that had kept him on the shelf since March 30, made a farewell appearance with the Tigers, the team that originally drafted him back in 2004, at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Genevieve Verlander met her father on the mound in the sixth inning Saturday, wrapping him in a long hug before he saluted the crowd and walked off the field at Comerica Park for the final time. It was a poignant moment in a memorable afternoon, one that rivaled Miguel Cabrera’s farewell in 2023.

The impact Justin Verlander has on the game of baseball is immeasurable. Sure, he was a great pitcher - perhaps the best of his generation. Sure, he helped transform the Tigers into perennial contenders (and helped the Astros finally get a ring).

Justin Verlander ended his final start after 5.2 innings by hugging his daughter and openly crying before walking off the mound one last time.

Justin Verlander discussed his emotional reaction to his daughter, Genevieve, joining him on the mound as he exited his final MLB start on Saturday.