Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander said Thursday this is the best he's felt physically approaching the start of spring training in at least three years. Verlander dealt with some shoulder issues in 2014 after undergoing core muscle surgery near his left hip last offseason.
"I've added 20 pounds of muscle," he said, per the Detroit Free Press. "I busted my butt in the weight room. And my pitching motion already feels a lot more fluid now than it did a year ago. It was great having an uninterrupted offseason of training and conditioning. At this same time a year ago, I was barely a few days removed from having (core muscle) surgery."
Verlander knew he was going to face a challenging season in 2014 after he talked with Ian Kinsler and former teammate Torii Hunter, who both said it took them a full year to fully regain their lower-body strength after having similar procedures.
"I didn't want to use that as an excuse," Verlander said. "I didn't want to talk about it because there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to work through it and do the best that I could to get out there and pitch. But I was a twisted mess last season. I couldn't generate the power I needed from my hips and lower body. My strength doesn't come from my arm. But I've got no problem talking about it now because I know it's in the past."