Giants veteran pitcher Justin Verlander etched his name further into baseball history, ringing up his 3,500th career strikeout–a feat accomplished by only nine pitchers before him. The historic punchout came against the Washington Nationals when Nathaniel Lowe tipped a 95 mph fastball into the glove for the definitive out.
The crowd erupted, giving Verlander a rousing ovation as he acknowledged the moment. He finished the game with 3,503 strikeouts; entering an elite class of pitchers who have reached that plateau.
But it was more than just a milestone moment. It was a sharp reminder that even at 42 and nearing the end of what has been a legendary career, Verlander still wields power and precision on the mound. In that outing, he notched six strikeouts over five innings, fanning his way into the spotlight even as the Nationals dominated for an 8-0 win.
Climbing the All-Time Strikeout Ladder
By eclipsing Johnson’s career total–listed at 3,509–Verlander claimed the No. 9 spot on the all-time strikeout leaderboard. According to Baseball-Reference and other statistical authorities, he’s now crossing into the upper tier of MLB’s most dominant arms.
This leap holds extra resonance–not because Johnson represented the first 3,000-strikeout pitcher, but because he’s a figure from baseball’s early, cloth-and-wood era. Johnson’s total stood for decades, and for Verlander to not only match but pass it, underscores how rare and enduring that early record was.
This accomplishment arrives during a season that’s presented its fair share of challenges–for Verlander and the Giants alike. Despite team headwinds and scant run support, the veteran star continues to find ways to remind fans what he’s made of.
In fact, his recent outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates was perhaps his best showing yet this year. Over seven shutout innings, he punched out eight batters and kept his stuff sharp; his fastball singing and slider crisp, drawing praise from manager Bob Melvin as Verlander’s top performance so far in 2025.
“Seeing that we’re in August and he’s throwing 98 mph, he’s obviously found something mechanically, he’s found his second wind,” Melvin said.
The Legacy Deepens
Verlander’s achievements were already legendary: three-time Cy Young winner, 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, and two-time World Series champion. Now, as one of just ten MLB pitchers ever to surpass 3,500 career strikeouts, his place in history feels even more cemented.
While a bid for 300 career wins seems less likely at this point, the strikeout record offers Verlander a clear, high-profile route to even greater immortality. With names like Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Steve Carlton still ahead, there remains room for more history to be made; if he continues pitching past this season.
“At this point in my career, if something goes really wrong, I’m not going to rehab a surgery or anything,” Verlander said. “I always understand that it could be it, but I think physically, I’ve shown some good health this season. As I’ve been on the mound, things have started to get better and better.
“To me, that’s a good sign with all the work I put in after my nerve injury last year, which notoriously takes a long time. The ball’s rolling in the right direction, and I would like to continue pitching. You never know. It’s a fickle game too, but I think the stuff is still there.”
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