Justin Verlander and Kate Upton: Probably Their Last MLB All-Star Red Carpet Walk (Explained Simply)

What Is Going On?

• On a Tuesday in Philadelphia, something special but a bit sad happened.
• Justin Verlander, a super famous baseball player, and his wife Kate Upton (a famous model) walked on the MLB All-Star Red Carpet (a fancy path where players and families show up like movie stars before a big game).
• This is likely the last time they will do this as part of a baseball team (called an MLB roster).
• Verlander was chosen as a "Legend Pick" for the All-Star Game. That means they invited him as a retiring great player.
• He has said he will stop playing baseball (retire) at the end of this season.

Important Point: Verlander is 43 years old, which is quite old for a baseball player. He knows the game is mostly for younger people, like a "young man’s game."

Who Are These People? (ELI5)

• Justin Verlander: Think of him as a superhero pitcher in baseball (the person who throws the ball to the batter). He is so good he will likely go to the Hall of Fame (a special museum that remembers the best players ever) in Cooperstown (a town in New York) in a few years.
• Kate Upton: His wife, known for modeling (like swimsuit magazines). She often joins him on the red carpet.
• MLB: Stands for Major League Baseball, the top baseball league in the USA.
• All-Star Game: A fun mid-season game where the best players from different teams play together.
• Red Carpet: Not just for movies; MLB has a parade-like event where players walk with family and friends before the game.

What Did Verlander Say About Coming Back?

On the red carpet, a reporter asked if anything could make him not retire.

• He said: "I don’t know if there’s much you can do at this point." (Meaning he’s pretty set on leaving.)
• His teammate (a fellow player) Tarik Skubal joked that the best players always come back. This made Verlander joke about training and showing up next year at the trade deadline (a deadline when teams can swap players and sign free agents).
• But Verlander explained: Right now at the All-Star Break (a pause in the season), he is not healthy enough to pitch (throw the ball). He hopes to get healthy in the second half (the remaining games after the break) and then say goodbye properly.

The Torch Is Passed to Younger Stars

Baseball is like a schoolyard: the older kids leave, and new kids take over. The article mentions these new faces on the red carpet:

• Paul Skenes (a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates) and his girlfriend Livvy Dunne (a famous gymnast/influencer).
• Brandon Marsh (Philadelphia Phillies player) with his mom, sister, and girlfriend.
• Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks) with his girlfriend Emma Broyles and family.

They represent the new generation that will walk the red carpet in future years.

A Look Back at Their Red Carpet Moments

We deserve one last appearance, and we can thank them by remembering past ones. Here are some captured in photos (as described in the original article):

1. 2026 in Philadelphia: Justin (shown with the San Francisco Giants in one photo, and with the Detroit Tigers in another photo) walked with his family at Independence Mall and posed at Loews Philadelphia on July 14, 2026.
2. 2022 in Los Angeles: Justin (then with the Houston Astros) and Kate posed at L.A. Live on July 19, 2022.
3. Washington, D.C.: They walked the carpet at Nationals Park (an MLB Red Carpet Show).
4. Cleveland, Ohio: They posed at Progressive Field for the MLB Red Carpet Show presented by Chevrolet.

(The original article included pictures from these events with credits to Getty Images and MLB Photos.)

Other Notes From the Original Article

• The article also promoted the "Zero BS. Just Dakich. Take the Don’t @ Me Podcast on the Road" and encouraged downloading it.
• It mentioned watching the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
• It linked to a piece about a former Home Run Derby participant praising All-Star festivities.
• It noted OutKick is now on the Fox app, encouraging readers to download it.
• The article was written by Sean Joseph, a writer for OutKick.

Summary

Justin Verlander, a future Hall of Fame baseball pitcher, and his wife Kate Upton likely walked the MLB All-Star Red Carpet for the final time as active team members on a Tuesday in Philadelphia in 2026. At 43, Verlander is retiring after this season, shrugging off comeback talk. While younger stars like Paul Skenes, Brandon Marsh, and Corbin Carroll now represent baseball’s future, fans can celebrate Verlander’s legacy and look forward to his Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown. We thank them for the memories and the run they had.

FAQ

Q1: What is the MLB All-Star Red Carpet?
A: It’s a pre-game event where baseball players and their families walk a special carpet like celebrities, getting photos and saying hi to fans before the All-Star Game.

Q2: Why is Justin Verlander retiring?
A: He is 43, which is old for baseball, and he has decided to end his career at the end of the season. He wants to get healthy for the remaining games and then ride off into the sunset.

Q3: What does "Legend Pick" mean?
A: The All-Star Game sometimes invites a retiring or legendary player as a special selection, even if they aren’t having their best year, to honor them.

Q4: Where is Cooperstown and why is it mentioned?
A: Cooperstown, New York is where the Baseball Hall of Fame is located. Verlander is expected to be inducted there in a few years because he is a future Hall of Famer.

Q5: Will we see Verlander on the red carpet again?
A: Probably not as a player on a team. But he might appear in the future as a fan or legend, and definitely at the Hall of Fame ceremony.