Scottsdale, Ariz. — In his first spring training appearance in a San Francisco Giants uniform, Justin Verlander showed that even a three-time Cy Young Award winner still has to shake off some rust before Opening Day.
The 42-year-old Verlander gave up just one hit in his two innings of work. However, his first-inning home run surrendered to Michael Toglia of the Colorado Rockies was part of a rough stretch to his opening frame with the Giants.
Verlander got an out on his first pitch for the Giants, getting Colorado’s Zac Veen to fly out to right in a promising start to the outing.
After striking out Nolan Jones, Verlander then ran into trouble, with Toglia sending his 1-2 pitch over the wall in right-center field to give the Rockies a 1-0 edge.
Verlander would then walk the next batter, Jordan Beck, and advance him to second on a balk before getting Nick Martini to ground out to first to end the frame.
The 19-year veteran looked sharper in the second inning, retiring the Rockies in order to end his day, with all three outs coming on fly balls to the outfield.
Verlander ended the day with one run surrendered on one hit while striking out one and walking one. You can watch each of his pitches against Colorado, including his fastball that topped out at 95.97 mph, in this video.
Monday’s pitching matchup involving Verlander was a contrast in pitching generations as he matched up against Colorado’s top pitching prospect, 23-year-old Chase Dollander. Each starter allowed a solo homer as their only runs allowed, but Dollander said after the game it was “awesome” to make his MLB spring training debut against Verlander.
“Somebody told me he debuted in 2005 and I was four years old at the time,” Dollander smiled. “That’s pretty cool to be able to do that.”
All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
