Tigers plan hijinks for prankster Verlander's birthday

LAKELAND, Fla. (WXYZ) - What do you get the guy who's got everything?

When it's Tigers ace Justin Verlander, you give him a dose of his own medicine.

"I have to do something because Verlander's always doing a lot of crazy stuff," reliever Jose Valverde said.

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner and MVP turned 29 years old Monday, and his teammates had some tricks up their sleeves.

"We'll sing happy birthday, and then we'll -- I don't know -- we'll come up with something," pitcher Max Scherzer said.

Okay, so maybe they didn't have any tricks up their sleeves.

Verlander is a world-class pitcher with command and the "stuff" to make any hitter look silly, but when it comes to pranks, he might be equally talented.

Last year, he caught Don Kelly's shoe on fire in the incident known around the Tigers clubhouse as the "hot shoe."

"I don't like messing with people in the clubhouse or with their stuff because it opens the door for them to mess with your stuff," Phil Coke explained.

But if it's not in the clubhouse or with someone's stuff?

"Oh. Well, it's not for all to see," Coke answered.

So a secret birthday plan?

"I honestly didn't even know it was his birthday," Coke admitted.

Manager Jim Leyland made note of it, instigating a team-wide round of applause as he brought the team together for the first time before the Tigers workout.

How did Verlander spend the evening?

"I'm going to dinner," he said.

Simple.

In the end, the only thing you really can get the guy who's got everything is a nice meal. As long as there's a side dish of prank to go with it.

Brad Galli is a Sports Reporter for WXYZ Detroit. Follow Brad on Twitter @BradGalli