Good News: Tigers pitcher leaves mound in tears after daughter’s surprise, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/good-news-tigers-pitcher-leaves-mound-in-tears-after-daughter-s-surprise-270625349545)

This news story centers on Detroit Tigers legendary pitcher Justin Verlander and an emotional send-off during the final start of his 21-season Major League Baseball career.

The Surprise on the Mound

In his final career start against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park, Verlander retired the leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning. As Tigers manager A.J. Hinch began walking toward the mound to take him out of the game, Verlander’s 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, sprinted out from near the dugout onto the field.

Wearing a Tigers jersey with her father’s name and iconic No. 35, she ran all the way to the mound to wrap her dad in a hug.

The Reaction

Verlander was completely blindsided by the momenta surprise orchestrated by Hinch alongside Verlander’s wife, model Kate Upton. The future Hall of Famer broke down in tears, shaking with emotion as he embraced his daughter on the mound. Verlander later shared:

“That completely blindsided me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks… I was sobbing and had to make sure that she understood I was happy. She’s never seen me cry like that.”

A Memorable Farewell

Following the hug, his teammates surrounded him on the mound to offer their congratulations. Verlander walked off the field hand-in-hand with Genevieve to a standing ovation from the crowd in Detroit. Near the dugout, he was greeted by Kate Upton holding their young son, Bellamy, sharing a family embrace before tipping his cap to the fans one final time.

The heartwarming moment capped off an illustrious 21-year MLB career that includes 3 Cy Young Awards, an AL MVP, 2 World Series titles, and over 3,500 strikeouts.