Justin Verlander Named Tiger of the Year
DETROIT – Justin Verlander has been selected the Tiger of the Year in voting conducted by the Detroit Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Verlander earned nine of a possible 22 first place votes to capture the award for the third time in his career. Ian Kinsler received eight first place votes, while Miguel Cabrera had four first place votes and Michael Fulmer had one first place vote.
Verlander, 33, finished the 2016 season with a 16-9 record, a 3.04 ERA (227.2IP/77ER) and 254 strikeouts. Verlander led the American League with 254 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP. He led the AL in strikeouts for the fourth time in his career and his 254 strikeouts were the most by a pitcher in his age-33 season-or-older since Randy Johnson struck out 290 batters in 2004. Verlander's 1.00 WHIP was the lowest he's had in a season since posting a 0.92 WHIP in 2011. Along with leading the AL in strikeouts and WHIP, Verlander ranked second with a 3.04 ERA, 227.2 innings pitched and a .207 (171x827) opponents batting average, tied for second with 34 games started, third with 10.04 strikeouts per nine innings, tied for fifth with two complete games and tied for sixth with 16 wins.
Verlander finished the season by allowing three runs-or-fewer in 17 of his last 18 starts, dating back to July 1. Over the 18-start stretch, Verlander had a 9-3 record with a 1.98 ERA (123.0IP/27ER), 81 hits allowed, 29 walks and 147 strikeouts. Verlander led the AL with a 1.98 ERA, 147 strikeouts, a .184 opponents batting average and a 0.89 WHIP during the stretch, while he was tied for the AL lead with 123.0 innings pitched.
In 12 seasons with the Tigers, Verlander has compiled a 173-106 record with a 3.47 ERA (2339.0IP/902ER) and 2197 strikeouts.
J.D. Martinez earned Tiger of the Year honors in 2015, while Victor Martinez received the award in 2014.
Recipients of the Tiger of the Year Award
1965 – Don Wert
1966 – Al Kaline
1967 – Bill Freehan
1968 – Denny McLain
1969 – Denny McLain
1970 – Tom Timmerman
1971 – Mickey Lolich
1972 – Ed Brinkman
1973 – John Hiller
1974 – Al Kaline
1975 – Willie Horton
1976 – Mark Fidrych
1977 – Ron LeFlore
1978 – Ron LeFlore
1979 – Steve Kemp
1980 – Alan Trammell
1981 – Kirk Gibson
1982 – Lance Parrish
1983 – Lou Whitaker
1984 – Willie Hernandez
1985 – Darrell Evans
1986 – Jack Morris
1987 – Alan Trammell
1988 – Alan Trammell
1989 – Lou Whitaker
1990 – Cecil Fielder
1991 – Cecil Fielder
1992 – Cecil Fielder
1993 – Tony Phillips
1994 – Kirk Gibson
1995 – Travis Fryman
1996 – Travis Fryman
1997 – Tony Clark and Bobby Higginson (tie)
1998 – Damion Easley
1999 – Dean Palmer
2000 – Bobby Higginson
2001 – Steve Sparks
2002 – Randall Simon
2003 – Dmitri Young
2004 – Ivan Rodriguez
2005 – Placido Polanco
2006 – Carlos Guillen
2007 – Magglio Ordoñez
2008 – Miguel Cabrera
2009 – Justin Verlander
2010 – Miguel Cabrera
2011 – Justin Verlander
2012 – Miguel Cabrera
2013 – Miguel Cabrera
2014 – Victor Martinez
2015 – J.D. Martinez
2016 – Justin Verlander
