Even in 2025, the mute button still seems to be a tricky feature to navigate for some.
That was the case on Monday during Justin Verlander’s first availability with the San Francisco media.
The right-hander, who signed with the Giants in free agency, and president of baseball operations Buster Posey were speaking with reporters via Zoom when one media member forgot to mute his mic and began commenting on the fact that Verlander appeared to be using the Zoom account of his wife, Kate Upton.
“Look at Justin’s name,” the reporter could be heard saying clearly as Posney was in the middle of answering a question.
Giants’ VP of media relations Matt Chisholm quickly jumped in to ask the media members on the call to mute themselves, appearing to briefly chuckle at the situation.
Verlander also had a sense of humor about the situation.
“I’ll change it,” Verlander said with a smirk. “Alright. I’ll change it.”
And change it, he did.
Later in the media call, Verlander clearly changed his name on Zoom to “JUSTIN VERLANDER (not Kate).
The reporter who made the Zoom gaffe was identified as NBC Sports Bay Area & California’s Taylor Wirth.
He poked fun at himself in a post on X.
Verlander signed a one-year contract with the Giants last week and has two World Series rings, five Cy Young awards, nine All-Star nominations, and an AL MVP.
The major leaguer has been married to Upton, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, since 2017 and they share a daughter, Genevieve.
Verlander, who will be 42 next month, is entering his 20th season in the MLB and told reporters on Monday that part of his goal for 2025 was “proving that I still have it.”
“I’ve accomplished enough in my career. I wouldn’t be back if I didn’t think I could be great,” he said.
