President Donald Trump failed to mention Kate Upton in his salute of her husband, Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander, in spite of her instrumental role in his regular-season and playoff-pitching performances.
Trump hosted the Astros at the White House on Monday to honor their 2017 World Series championship win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the first in the history of the Astros franchise.
Verlander was a late-season acquisition for Houston and pitched sensationally, going 5-0 with a 1.06 earned run average. In the postseason, he went 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA, striking out 38 batters in 36 2/3 innings.
"And of course, the lights-out pitching of Justin Verlander," Trump said, who he described as a friend with whom he's played golf. "I'm a pretty long hitter. This guy, he is a monster. And he said he's a two or a three handicap, but believe me, he's much better than that ... We love playing, and it was really great, and what he wants to do is get back to pitching, and I think he's going to have a fantastic year."
However, Trump failed to give his due to Upton, who became engaged to Verlander in 2016 and married him two days after the Astros won the World Series.
Last September, Verlander told ESPN "thank goodness" for Upton, who he said was key in his decision to leave the Detroit Tigers and join the Astros.