Verlander thought career was over in 2014, now hopes to pitch until he's 45

Watch out Bartolo Colon, you're not the only one who thinks he can pitch into his mid-40s.

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander admitted he'd like to pitch until he's at least 45 after revealing to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi that he thought his career was over in 2014.

During a start on Aug. 11, 2014 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Verlander was removed from the game following a disastrous first inning which included a first pitch clocked at an uncharacteristic 86 mph. He lost control of his emotions following the terrible outing because he had never experienced this kind of pain in his throwing arm before.

"There's that tunnel down there, and I sat down and lost it," Verlander explained. "I thought my career was over. I thought I was done. I thought the MRI was going to say I needed shoulder surgery.

"I was 99 percent sure I was going to need shoulder surgery. I couldn't throw a baseball."

The start was the shortest of his major-league career, but he didn't end up needing shoulder surgery. The pain was actually the result of poor rehabilitation from core muscle surgery performed on him earlier in the year, according to Morosi.

Things have certainly directed themselves more into the favor of the 35-year-old since, and he now believes he can pitch for another decade.

"In my head, right now, I'm thinking 45," Verlander replied when asked about a possible retirement date. "I don't know if that's realistic. I'm going to go as long as I can, until something changes."

After another dominating start on Monday against the New York Yankees, Verlander's MLB-best ERA sits at 1.11 alongside his 7-2 record, 0.71 WHIP, and 98 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings of work.