Justin Verlander’s Impact on the San Francisco Giants: A Spring Training Story

The Arizona sun beat down on the Scottsdale Stadium as Justin Verlander, a seasoned veteran entering his remarkable 20th MLB season, meticulously prepared for a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics. While the game itself held little significance in the grand scheme of the season, Verlander’s approach was anything but trivial. He immersed himself in studying the Athletics’ lineup, dissecting video footage, and peppering teammates with questions about the opposing hitters.

Giants’ ace Logan Webb, known for his own meticulous preparation, admitted to being taken aback by Verlander’s dedication. "I thought I was prepared before watching him," Webb confessed, "He’s unreal." This level of commitment is a testament to Verlander’s enduring success, a career built on 3,415 ⅔ innings pitched, 262 victories, and a staggering 3,416 strikeouts – the most among all active pitchers.

"He’s everything you could possibly imagine in a pitcher," Webb declared. "You see why he’s been around for 20 years just seeing his attention to detail with everything he does. He has a brilliant baseball mind. I just love talking to him about pitching. Every day I’m picking his brain about something new."

Verlander’s impact extends beyond his personal preparation. He has quickly become a mentor and leader within the Giants’ clubhouse. "He’s been great for me, great for our young pitchers, and really just great for the entire team," Webb emphasized. "He’s not scared of anybody and all of the guys have really bought into that."

While spring training records are often dismissed as inconsequential, the Giants’ impressive performance in the Cactus League – a league-best 18-6-3 record – suggests a team benefiting from Verlander’s influence. Their pitching staff has been particularly dominant, allowing the fewest walks (61 in 238 innings) and recording the most strikeouts (259) in baseball. Their 1.14 WHIP leads the major leagues, and their 3.44 ERA ranks second.

"He’s really raised the expectations for the whole pitching staff," Giants catcher Patrick Bailey explained. "He sets the expectations and kind of brings everybody along. Look what we’re doing." The Giants’ starting rotation, led by Webb, Robbie Ray, and Verlander himself, has been a force to be reckoned with. Webb boasts a 3-0 record with a 1.50 ERA, Ray is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA, and Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA.

For Robbie Ray, sharing a clubhouse with Verlander is a full-circle moment. "For me to get my first big league start when he was a Tiger, growing up watching him as a kid, and then to share a clubhouse with him, it’s exciting to come full circle," Ray said. "He’s a testament of what you can do if you take care of yourself, and you work hard, especially for these young guys trying to get their feet wet. You see a guy that already has had all of this success in the big leagues, and he’s still coming in on a daily basis working as hard as he can to be better."

Ray emphasizes the impact of Verlander’s work ethic on the entire team. "I mean, the work ethic he has is what this clubhouse needs. They need to see it. The guys need to see what it takes to pitch for 20 years."

Pitcher Jordan Hicks echoed Ray’s sentiments, stating, "It’s just so impressive seeing how he goes about his preparation, watching video, and studying it. It’s only spring training, and you already see how in-depth he goes. So, I can’t wait to see how it is in the season."

Beyond the field, Verlander has embraced his first spring training experience in Arizona. He enjoys spending time with his teammates, engaging in conversations about baseball, playing chess, and discussing life. He has also taken on the role of a mentor, emphasizing the importance of preparation and challenging the notion that wins are unimportant for starting pitchers.

"There are times when you may end up either being lucky or unlucky with wins and losses," Verlander explained, "but you take a large sample size, and the best pitchers win more games. They go deeper in games. The deeper you go, the more opportunity there is to win more games. And you’re not just affecting your game, you’re affecting the games before your start and after your start."

Ray acknowledges the motivational impact of these talks. "It’s nice for me having another guy here to bounce things off, just sitting back and watching each other," Ray said. "He’s got a really good eye for reading hitters’ swings, what a guy is thinking. It’s just nice to pick his brain and see how he thinks through things. He’s done it for 20 years, he’s going to the Hall of Fame, so obviously he’s doing something right."

Verlander’s pursuit of 300 career victories – a feat achieved by only 24 pitchers in MLB history – has inspired his teammates. "Don’t let anyone fool you, wins are important for a starting pitcher," Ray emphasized. "Sure, wins are more of a team stat, but you don’t go out there trying to get a no-decision. It means you’re going deeper into the game and doing your job the way you’re supposed to do it. And, hey, most important, if you win, it means the team is winning, too."

At 42 years old, Verlander plans to pitch until he’s 45, giving him three years to reach the 300-win milestone. His performance this spring suggests that this goal is within reach. He is averaging 94-mph on his fastball, hitting 96-mph, and effectively mixing in his curveballs and sliders.

Despite battling injuries in recent seasons, Verlander feels healthy and revitalized. He sees his past struggles as learning experiences, not as signs of decline. "I’m a pretty harsh critic of myself, and I look at the injuries I sustained last year and the year before as a learning tool," Verlander said. "I don’t see them as something that was indicative that it was the end of my career, or my body can’t keep up anymore. I wouldn’t be here if that’s the way I viewed it."

He is confident that he can return to his previous form, even surpass it. "My mechanics last year were so poor, but I think a lot of the mechanical adjustments I made in the offseason are having the intended results. There are still some things I think need to be cleaned up, but my bodys moving differently now. Im moving freer and easier. Really, the way I’m moving right now, I have the ability to get my slider back to where I was in 2022, ideally, 2019.’’

Verlander’s impressive career achievements, including two Cy Young awards, nine All-Star selections, and his dominance in various pitching categories, have earned him the respect of his peers. Giants starter Kyle Harrison stated, "It blows me away what he’s done in his career. It’s what we all want to be one day. He’s living proof that we could do it. We’re all trying to be like him one day."

Giants manager Bob Melvin aptly describes Verlander as the "Pied Piper" of the pitching staff, with everyone eager to follow his lead. While some may question whether anyone can replicate Verlander’s longevity and success, his teammates are inspired to strive for greatness.

Ultimately, Verlander’s goal is not solely focused on personal accolades. He aims to contribute to the Giants’ success and help them achieve their championship aspirations. "That’s something to strive for, but it’s not the reason why I’m playing," Verlander said of the 300-win milestone. "I still have that fire to play, and as long as that desire is still there, I don’t see why I should stop."

As he stated in his introductory press conference, Verlander is confident in his ability to perform at a high level. "I wouldn’t be back if I didn’t think I could be great," he declared. And with that confidence, he plans to lead the Giants to new heights.