July 3, 2011
DETROIT, MI- Former ODU pitching standout Justin Verlander ('04) has been selected to his fourth American League All-Star team. The righthander is currently 11-3 overall with a 2.32 earned run average.
The 82nd All-Star game is scheduled for July 12 at Phoenix's Chase Field.
Verlander is tied for the AL lead in wins with 11 and leads the league in strikeouts with 130 in 135.2 innings. He also has two shutouts, including the no-hitter he threw earlier this season against Toronto, his second career no-hitter.
In the month of June, Verlander went 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA, 54 strikeouts and onlysix walks.
Verlander was voted in by the players' vote, though he probably won't be pitching in the game. He is scheduled to start at Kansas City on the Sunday before the break, which, by MLB rules, prohibits him from throwing in the All-Star game. He will take part in all the festivities.
It will be the fourth time he's been named to the All-Star team.In his two appearances (2007 and 2010), he's allowed one run and four hits in two innings. He was also selected in 2009, but did not pitch.
Verlander, the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year had his jersey retired at ODU last November as he is ODU's, the Colonial Athletic Association and the State of Virginia's (Div. 1) all-time collegiate strikeout king with 427 in 335.2 innings.