Tigers starter Justin Verlander will become the first active major league player to be recognized with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award, MLB.com reports Monday. He'll be honored Wednesday.

The award was created to honor the legacy of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who enlisted in the Navy for World War II immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Verlander's award recognizes the work he's done to honor veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They face challenges when they return that most people don't understand," Verlander said at the time. "The thing is, these men and women are taught to be brave and strong, and when they come home, they're not going to be the first ones to raise their hands and say, 'Hey, I need help.' We need to go out there and extend our arm to try to help these men and women."