In this edition of the Justin Verlander dating watch, his rumored romance with Kate Upton seems to have turned into a family affair.
While the superstar and the supermodel have kept their lips sealed about their relationship, the pair's family members aren't so coy. Celebuzz spoke to Verlander's grandfather, Richard Verlander Sr., who seemed to confirm their status as a couple.
”I heard he has been on dates with a Sports Illustrated girl. I saw a photo -- she’s beautiful," the senior Verlander told the celebrity news site. “They make a good-looking pair because he’s a good-looking man too."
Upton's family also couldn't help but spill the news. Her uncle, who just happens to be a Michigan congressman, earlier told a Michigan radio show he had "family reasons" to support the Tigers.
Celebuzz continued its strategy of turning to proud grandparents to spill the beans and spoke to Kate Upton's grandfather as well, who said the model was at one of the Tigers' recent games against Oakland and had the family's support.
Upton has cheered the pitcher on in the past, rooting on the Tigers from Verlander's box at a July game. The underage star came under scrutiny at the time for drinking something out of a plastic cup that her rep insisted was not beer.
The two have been spotted out and about and were linked since this summer, when Upton first appeared with Verlander in a commercial for the MLB 2K12 video game.
Below, check out some other celebrity-athlete couples:
