It’s only fitting that Justin Verlander and Kate Upton’s whirlwind year would end with a fairy-tale finish.
Two months after being dealt to Houston, the Astros ace and his bombshell fiancée celebrated the franchise’s first-ever World Series championship following Wednesday night’s do-or-die Game 7 in Los Angeles.
“It’s everything I could ever imagine, this is … no words, man,” Verlander, 34, told ESPN. “This is unbelievable. I’m so glad to be a part of this. On that night I said yes, this is what I envisioned. I’m extremely lucky to be here.”
Now the couple, who got engaged in May 2016, will get married this month in Tuscany.
Verlander is also extremely lucky to have a supportive and convincing gal pal. During an appearance on “Pardon the Interruption,” the former Tigers ace revealed Upton, 25, helped ease his mind with only 40 minutes left before the Aug. 31 deadline to decide the next chapter of his MLB future.
“Thank goodness my fiancée Kate was there,” Verlander said. “It made my decision a lot easier.”
Waiving his no-trade clause, Verlander bid Detroit farewell after 12 years for a chance to become a postseason contender.
“Finally, I’m still pacing and I just kind of stop and I looked at Kate and I go, ‘Screw it; we’re going to Houston,’” Verlander said. “And she’s like, ‘Heck yeah.’ You know I’m kind of trying to say the right language here. But she says, ‘Heck yeah, we’re going,’ and that was it. That was the decision.”
Upton has been present for all of Verlander’s starts, including his Sept. 6 debut against the Seattle Mariners.