When people look up Rizzos wife, they are usually searching for Emily Vakos, the nutritionist and real estate professional married to veteran Major League Baseball first baseman Anthony Rizzo. While her husband spent over a decade anchoring infields for teams like the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees, Emily built a distinct professional path spanning health sciences and real estate.
Behind the high-profile stadium lights and high-stakes trades, the reality of a baseball partner's life involves constant relocation, supporting a high-performance athlete through injuries, and balancing private careers with public visibility. This profile unpacks Emily Vakos' background, her journey intersecting with professional baseball, and what life looks like behind the scenes for an MLB spouse.
Early Life and Educational Background
Born on January 9, 1994, in Dallas, Texas, Emily Vakos grew up away from the immediate glare of professional sports. Raised by her parents, Mark Vakos and Stephanie Sudwischer, she pursued an academic route focused on health sciences.
She enrolled at Arizona State University in 2012, where she dedicated her studies to nutrition and food management. During her undergraduate years, she balanced coursework with practical work experiences, including internships and health-focused community roles. She worked with organizations like St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance and completed educational placements within the Scottsdale Unified School District. Her academic background in nutritional science would eventually play a direct role in how she crossed paths with professional baseball.
Meeting Anthony Rizzo: Spring Training and the Cubs
The intersection of Emily's career and professional sports happened during her time at Arizona State. In 2016, she secured a nutrition internship with the Chicago Cubs during spring training in Arizona.
Working inside the club's dietary and health operations, she interacted with players who required strict nutritional regimens to survive a gruelling 162-game MLB schedule. It was during this internship that she met Anthony Rizzo, who was then a cornerstone slugger for the Cubs. What started as professional contact quickly evolved into a personal connection. The couple kept their early relationship relatively private, away from the heavy media coverage surrounding Chicago's historic run toward the 2016 World Series championship.
Engagement and Wedding Details
After dating for over a year, Anthony proposed in June 2017 with an elaborate surprise. He arranged a boat ride over Lake Michigan under the guise of taking promotional photos, popping the question against a backdrop of fireworks.
The couple tied the knot on December 29, 2018, in a ceremony held in Miami, Florida, Anthony's hometown. The wedding drew figures from across baseball and entertainment, including former teammates and close friends like pitcher David Ross and country music singer Brett Eldredge.
Career Path: From Nutrition to Real Estate
Many professional athlete partners maintain independent professional identities, and Emily is no exception. Beyond her foundational training in nutritional science—which included working with health brands like Herbalife—she transitioned into the real estate sector.
After years of living in the Chicago area, she obtained her license and worked as a real estate broker with prominent regional firms like @properties. Navigating a career in real estate requires mobility, strong local market knowledge, and client relationship management—skills that prove essential when relocating between major metropolitan areas like Chicago, New York, and South Florida.
The Reality of Life as a Baseball Partner
Being married to an MLB player comes with unique logistical hurdles that rarely make sports highlight reels.
- Constant Relocation: Professional sports contracts mean families must adapt quickly to sudden trades or free-agent signings. When Anthony was traded from the Cubs to the Yankees in 2021, the couple had to transition out of a Chicago residence they had occupied for seven years and adapt to East Coast living.
- Injury Management: Baseball seasons are long and physically punishing. Spouses often act as the primary support system during rehabilitation stints, slumps, and stressful contract negotiations.
- Balancing Privacy and Public Exposure: While baseball fans follow players obsessively on platforms like Major League Baseball, partners often choose to keep their day-to-day lives private, balancing social media glimpses with strict boundaries regarding their personal time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Emily Vakos' professional background?
She studied nutrition and food management at Arizona State University and later transitioned into real estate, working as a licensed broker in the Chicago market.
How did Emily Vakos and Anthony Rizzo meet?
They met during spring training in 2016 when Emily was working as a nutrition intern for the Chicago Cubs.
When did they get married?
The couple married on December 29, 2018, in Miami, Florida.
Where do Anthony and Emily live during the off-season?
The couple primarily resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, utilizing the off-season to rest away from the northern baseball cities.
