Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Verlander has Tommy John surgery, will miss 2021 season

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Oct 1, 2020 6:58 PM ET

The Houston Astros confirmed on Thursday that ace right-hander Justin Verlander underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and will miss the 2021 regular season.

The 37-year-old who won the American League Cy Young award in 2011 and 2019 can enter free agency after the '21 campaign ends.

Verlander started for the Astros against the Seattle Mariners on July 24 but didn't take the mound again due to what was first described as a right forearm strain. Houston hoped to have Verlander back for the playoffs, but he suffered a setback tossing a simulated game on Sept. 17.

He announced shortly after that he would need Tommy John.

Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and 300 strikeouts in 2019. He turns 39 years old in February 2021.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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