Anthony Rizzo, the New York Yankees’ first baseman ‘Tony Rizz’, worked wonders on his lady love. The woman who stands far away from the spotlight, yet so close to Anthony Rizzo, Emily Vakos. While she maintains a low profile, staying engaged in the work she does, her story and association with ‘Tony’ is one of a kind. And no, it’s not always been a bed of roses.
Be it in social causes or games, she always has Rizzo’s back. Their story starts almost a decade ago when they first met under quite unexpected circumstances. Who knew that two young souls would amalgamate to form a bond for life? As the world raises a toast to the adorable couple, it’s time to deep dive into the life of Emily Vakos.
Who is Emily Vakos: Her life explored
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Behind every well-known and admired star, there’s a spouse who supports their partner’s endeavors. Even if it is often behind closed doors away from the light of the public. One of the most talented players in baseball, Anthony Rizzo, has his wife Emily Vakos as a support system. Although she has been a strong force in Rizzo’s life, there’s little known about his wife.
View this post on Instagram
Anthony Rizzo, who plays for the New York Yankees, has gained popularity over the years as his career grew. And coherently, Emily’s popularity has grown too. But her story, of whatever is known, is an interesting one. She was born on January 6, 1994, in Dallas, Texas, to Mark Vakos and Stephanie Sudwischer. One can’t say for sure whether it was the dark brown hair, the beautiful grey eyes or her passionate drive toward her goals. Anthony was smitten.
What does she do for a living? Into her life as a nutritionist
Though the 30-year-old keeps a low profile in public, her career is quite an interesting one. Having graduated from the Arizona State University with a degree in Nutrition and Food Management, she has a passion for a healthy lifestyle. In fact, during her college days, she undertook another course at the College of health solutions in the same university. And that was the foundation of her career as a nutritionist.
Read More: WATCH: In the Life of Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo, ‘Dog Dad’ Duties Trump Baseball
Per her LinkedIn profile, she works with a Real Estate based company and even worked as a distributor for Herbalife in 2014. Additionally, as an assistant to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, she helped grow food within the company. While her career path has been quite different from that of her husband’s, it’s interesting how their paths crossed.
How long has she been in a relationship with Anthony Rizzo? Know the timeline
The couple reportedly met while Rizzo was with the Chicago Cubs and Vakos was a real estate broker in the city. Moreover, at the time Emily was an intern with the Chicago Cubs, handling the nutrition department for the athletes. While the two dated for a while, Rizzo’s idea to pop the question was executed with top-notch perfection. It was a complete surprise!
View this post on Instagram
On June 1, 2017, Anthony proposed to her with a fireworks display over Lake Michigan. He pulled off a flawless surprise engagement. Since Emily was in the dark about what was going on, it was an interesting engagement. This is how the story started. Anthony promised to take some pictures with her on the boat. Emily continued to believe Anthony Rizzo’s proposal was a joke, even after he had taken off the ring. The first baseman staged a fictitious wedding in December 2018 and shared purported wedding pictures on the internet. This sent a wave of surprise across his fanbase.
He took it a step higher. Since they were all dressed up from attending a wedding party, he decided to take advantage of the situation and post as though they had actually tied the knot. Naturally, their countless fans and followers on social media began to discuss the photos, believing that they had finally tied the knot.
View this post on Instagram
On December 29, Anthony hinted at Emily Vakos’ engagement ring when he announced the wedding using an emoji of a ring. Eventually, in 2018, Emily and Anthony formally tied the knot in Florida, the hometown of the MLB player. Multiple celebrities attended the wedding, including former Chicago Cubs’ player David Ross and country music artist Brett Eldredge.
Her impact on Anthony Rizzo’s life: A tale of cherished togetherness
Emily Rizzo is seen involving closely with other players and their wives in social events. An anecdote that comes to mind is when Emily Rizzo ran her first marathon on behalf of the “Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation.” Her husband, who is a cancer survivor, was present in the crowds, cheering her on. Emily revealed to the New York Post that as this was her first time running the marathon, she took advice from (Samantha) Bracksieck, Aaron Judge’s wife.
Anthony Rizzo DJs to celebrate wife Emily Vakos’ NYC marathon finish https://t.co/Eo1BTZpJxu pic.twitter.com/tGOoXa2bBZ
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) November 6, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Emily and Anthony have shared a beautiful married relationship for over 5 years now. Taking a step further in their relationship, they adopted a pet dog. This new addition to their family, named Kevin, came in 2020. The two have been open on social media, posting pictures with Kevin. Nonetheless, no details about whether they have children or not are revealed.
View this post on Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Though Mrs. Rizzo maintains a low profile, her contribution to her husband’s life and career has been profound. There has been no moment unacknowledged where they have stood for each other. Their relationship is one that’s etched on a stone.
Read More: Anthony Rizzo Celebrates Aaron Judge’s Rare Moment With Wife Samantha Bracksieck