The supermodel and actress, best known for her appearances in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, candidly shared her experience on the Chicks in the Office podcast, reflecting on what it’s like being the wife of Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander.
“Being a baseball wife is absolutely insane. This schedule is wild, it’s so long—I didn’t know,” Upton, 32, admitted. “I accidentally fell in love. I had no idea there were this many games.”
With Major League Baseball’s demanding schedule, it’s easy to see why. Spring training kicks off in February, followed by a grueling 162-game regular season spanning from late March to early October. If a team advances to the postseason, the games stretch on for another month.
“No consecutive off days, only Mondays and Thursdays,” she noted, joking that those rare breaks are her personal favorites.
Upton also described the emotional rollercoaster of watching her husband compete, especially during the playoffs. “I don’t see him. And when you get into the late playoffs, the baseball is so exciting, but at the same time, I’m thinking, ‘I haven’t seen my husband in months—they better win!’”
The Astros, currently in the thick of the season, entered the MLB All-Star break with a 50-46 record, trailing the AL West-leading Mariners by just one game (52-46).
As for Verlander, the 41-year-old has had a strong season, recording a 3.95 ERA with 51 strikeouts over 57 innings in 10 starts. A veteran on the mound, he first made his MLB debut in 2005 with the Detroit Tigers and has spent six seasons with Houston, aside from a brief stint with the New York Mets in 2023.
Upton also touched on the nerves that come with watching a loved one compete at the highest level. “To watch someone you love out there and have no control—it was a totally new experience,” she said.
“That nervous energy just hits me like, ‘Oh no!’ And you just want them to do well. He’s my husband, so of course I want him to come home happy and not disappointed in how he played.”
Upton and Verlander’s love story began in 2012 when they first met during a commercial shoot. After dating for two years, the couple got engaged in early 2016 and tied the knot in 2017—just days after Verlander celebrated his first World Series victory with the Astros.
A year later, they welcomed their daughter, Genevieve “Vivi” Upton Verlander, who is now six years old.
Balancing marriage, parenting, and baseball has been a learning curve for Upton, but despite the demanding schedule, her support for Verlander remains unwavering.
