Advertisement

Justin Verlander and Kate Upton talk proposal and superstitions on 'Tonight Show'

Back from their wedding in Italy, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander and wife Kate Upton traveled to New York for an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Friday night and ended up stealing the show.

The happy couple had plenty to talk about, including their whirlwind week that saw them go from celebrating a World Series championship in Los Angeles to exchanging wedding vows in Tuscany, Italy three days later. Verlander talked about being taken around the wedding venue on FaceTime while preparing to potentially pitch in Game 7.

The discussion naturally turned to Verlander’s proposal. It wasn’t quite as dramatic as Verlander’s teammate Carlos Correa proposing to girlfriend Daniella Rodriguez on the field and on live television following the Astros dramatic World Series victory. However, as Upton hilariously explains it, it would have made for good TV.

“It was this great elaborate proposal,” Upton said. “He’s very romantic. He gets down on one knee and he pops open the ring box. In my mind I’m like, ‘Don’t look at the ring. He’s going to think you’re materialistic. Just look in his eyes; listen to what he’s saying. Listen! You’re not listening, Kate!’ This was my internal dialogue. And then finally I’m like, ‘He stopped talking, just say yes.’ I said yes, and he stands up and he’s like, ‘Did you not like the ring? You didn’t look at it once.'”

Verlander said the couple considered the possibility of their wedding overlapping with the World Series when initially planning it. But that was during his time with the Detroit Tigers, when a World Series appearance was a definite long shot. Things got a little more complicated once he was traded to Houston in August. Everything ended up working out though, even if some people were mad they missed the team’s championship parade.

Justin Verlander and Kate Upton celebrate the Houston Astros World Series championship at Dodger Stadium before traveling to Italy for their wedding three days later. (AP)
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton celebrate the Houston Astros World Series championship at Dodger Stadium before traveling to Italy for their wedding three days later. (AP)

Upton also noted her superstitions while Verlander is pitching. Upton, who’s used to having control of the situation in her modeling career, says she’s created a routine that she carries out every game that in her mind helps Verlander. Of course, his mind is elsewhere, but it’s appreciated nonetheless.

You can catch the highlights of the interview in the video above. Even if you’re not an Astros or Justin Verlander fan, it’s a pretty fun interview that shows a side of him we don’t often see.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

– – – – – – –

Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!