MLB: Career end still far away for Houston star

Justin Verlander has no intention of resigning. Rather, the Houston Astros’ Ace says that the second half of his career has only just begun.

“Just keep swimming,” he told reporters in the run-up to the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. “That’s me. Just keep pitching. Head down, get ready and pitch down. And when I look up at the end of my career at some point, it will hopefully have cemented my legacy.”

Verlander has been pitching in the Big Leagues for 14 years and won the World Series for the first time last year with the Astros. “I think my goal is to be healthy and strong as long as possible,” said Verlander, adding: “There is no fixed number of years for me. I want to pitch as long as I can.”

The 35-year-old, whose contract runs until the end of the 2020 season, also stated: “I have learned a lot in the last five years. And I think that prepared me for the second half of my career,” and stressed: “By the way, I said second half!”

This article was published without prior review by Major League Baseball.