Baseball is considered America's pastime for a reason. Each spring, fans rejoice as MLB teams kick off their 162-game season, with players across the National and American leagues vying for their shot at the prolific World Series trophy. But off the baseball diamond, there's just as much fanfare around MLB wives and girlfriends as the athletes themselves.
Baseball wives captivate and fascinate fans around the country. (Don't lie: You've probably fallen down the WAG culture rabbit hole before.) These women play an integral role in their partners' success, showing them support on and off the field. Plus, with so many now giving an inside look at their lives on social media, fans can't help but wonder what it's like to be an MLB wife.
Here, we break down our favorite MLB wives and girlfriends, along with their love stories that never fail to make our hearts flutter. From high school sweethearts to couples who've met through the big leagues, read about the women who've stolen the hearts of your favorite players, and look back on the sweetest details from their weddings.
Bryce Harper and Kayla Harper
As one of the best players in the game today, there's been plenty of buzz around Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper since before he joined the MLB. (He was such a rising star, in fact, that he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated at just 16 years old.) Of course, he hasn't made his rise to the top alone. Bryce Harper's wife Kayla has been by his side since he was a teenager. The Nevada natives met as freshmen in high school and have been together ever since.
Kayla has followed her husband around the country, from when he was drafted to the Washington Nationals to where he now plays in Philadelphia. The couple got married in December 2016 and exclusively shared their wedding photos with The Knot. "I was very excited and overwhelmed with emotion—just the whole process and getting everything done and finally seeing my bride and wife," the athlete told us. "You know, you dream about things like that." Today, Bryce Harper and his wife are the proud parents to kids Krew, 4, and Brooklyn, 3, with their third due in 2024.
Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka
Easily one of the most talked-about players today, Shohei Ohtani made history when he signed a 10-year, $700-million-dollar deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. The pitcher has continued to make headlines since his MLB debut in 2018, but his wife is much more private. Ohtani announced that he was married in February 2024 by sharing a rare statement about his private life on Instagram. "Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married."
At first, Ohtani did not personally name his wife, instead telling reporters, "She's a normal Japanese woman." A few weeks later, though, he posted a photo of them together, revealing her identity. Ohtani married Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player for Japan.
Alex Bregman and Reagan Bregman
Houston Astros player Alex Bregman met his wife, Reagan, through a mutual friend. They unexpectedly crossed paths at dinner one night, and a few days later, enjoyed their first date. They embarked on a long-distance relationship, and by January 2020, Alex popped the question. The two intended to get married that same year but had to pivot their wedding plans due to the pandemic.
In an exclusive interview with The Knot, Reagan opened up about their intimate wedding, saying, "It was really nice to be at my parents' home. We kept it pretty similar to what we had originally planned and discussed. We literally changed locations and did the same thing." The Bregmans' son, Knox, joined the family on August 1, 2022.
Aaron Judge and Samantha Bracksieck
Although she doesn't have public social media accounts, one of the most well-known baseball wives is Samantha Bracksieck, who's married to New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. The couple keeps their romance incredibly private, and Bracksieck has only appeared on Judge's Instagram page a handful of times: first, in 2014, and most recently, in 2022.
They reportedly met in high school and both attended Fresno State University in California. Though they never formally announced their engagement, paparazzi photos indicated that their wedding took place on December 11, 2021, at Montage Kapalua Bay resort in Maui, Hawaii.
Dansby Swanson and Mallory Pugh
How's this for an athletic power couple? If you're tuned into the world of sports, you definitely know Dansby Swanson's wife, Mallory Pugh. The Chicago Cubs shortstop is married to the USWNT soccer player. This baseball wife met her husband through his former teammate, Jace Peterson, in 2017.
The duo got engaged in 2021 and swapped vows on December 10, 2022. They exchanged vows in a modern luxury ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. On their anniversary in 2023, Pugh reflected on their first year of marriage on social media, writing, "Looking back at it, God wrote this first year perfectly. Filled with many challenges and His goodness all in one, He called us to lean on Him and each other more than ever. Happy Anniversary! I love you!"
Josh Smith and Claire Smith
If you've been on the MLB wives side of TikTok, you've probably seen a GRWM or OOTD video from Josh Smith's wife, Claire Smith. The Texas Rangers infielder, who was on the World Series-winning team in 2023, married his wife, a lifestyle influencer, in January 2021. The duo met as freshmen in high school and have been together ever since.
Amid her husband's introduction to the league in 2022, Claire documented their journey as an MLB couple, giving fans an inside look into the process of getting drafted, making it to the playoffs, and going to (and winning!) the World Series. "from living off an air fryer in 1-star hotels to winning the WORLD SERIES!!!!!" she wrote on Instagram after the Rangers won the championship. "baseball life sure is a rollercoaster of a journey but it's allllllll worth it seeing this guys dreams come true. I love you so much @joshsmith8 & am so freaking proud of you🩷 YOU'RE A WORLD SERIES CHAMP!!!🥂🥂."
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton
Kate Upton is perhaps one of the most well-known baseball wives. The Sports Illustrated model began dating Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander in 2014. (At the time, he played for the Detroit Tigers.) The couple tied the knot in a lavish destination wedding in Tuscany in 2017, but the athlete almost didn't make it… because of the World Series!
The wedding date was set for November 4, but two days prior, Verlander was in Los Angeles for Game 7 of the championship. Upton, of course, watched his team take home the trophy as their guests FaceTimed them from their first wedding event. Luckily, the couple made it to the Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco resort in time for their rehearsal dinner the next day, followed by their "secret garden" wedding ceremony. Today, the couple is still happily married. Their daughter, Genevieve, was born in November 2018.
Austin Gomber and Rachel Gomber
Rachel Gomber is another MLB wife who's made it big on TikTok. The influencer is married to Colorado Rockies pitcher Austin Gomber and has racked up over half a million followers on the app thanks to her "Day in the Life" vlogs that give an inside look at what it's like to be an MLB family.
The Gombers welcomed their first child, son Beckham, in June 2019, just months before their wedding. The couple exchanged vows on December 28, 2019, in Florida. Their second son, Charlie, was born in August 2021. Days before the 2024 MLB season kicked off, Austin Gomber and his wife shared that their third child, a daughter, is due in September.
Taylor Hearn and Andrea Hawkins
Though he currently plays for the Nippon Professional Baseball League, the highest level of baseball in Japan, Taylor Hearn previously pitched for the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. The former MLB player gave The Knot an exclusive look inside his wedding to Andrea Hawkins, which took place on December 16, 2023, in downtown Dallas.
The couple, who met in passing at a baseball game exactly 10 years prior, began dating in 2020. They got engaged two years later and planned a wedding that encapsulated all of their favorite things. Not only did the reception feature a custom milkshake bar, a nod to their favorite dessert, the couple's unique seating chart was made using Hearn's extensive sneaker collection. "We didn't want the traditional wedding that we always see," Hawkins told The Knot. "We wanted something that would be an experience for our friends and family."
Mike Trout and Jessica Cox
It was love at first sight for Mike Trout and his wife, Jessica (Cox) Trout. The high school sweethearts met in Spanish class, long before Trout rose to fame in the MLB—and his longtime love has been by his side ever since. The Los Angeles Angels outfielder married his wife on December 9, 2017, and their son Beckham was born in July 2020.
The famed athlete gave his wife a sweet shoutout on Mother's Day in 2023, writing on Instagram, "Jess, you are truly the rock of this family and we could not ask for a more amazing mother. B and I love you!"
Cody Bellinger and Chase Carter
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is married to Bahamian-born Sports Illustrated model Chase Carter. The couple met and began dating in 2020, the same year that Bellinger won the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The following year, the athlete—who was named the 2019 National League MVP—welcomed his first child with his girlfriend, a daughter named Caiden Carter Bellinger. Their family grew again in April 2023 with the birth of their second daughter, Cy. Cody Bellinger proposed to Carter in the spring of 2023, and they seemingly teased a secret wedding on Instagram in December of that year.
Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds
Brianna Hammonds is yet another MLB wife who's been with her husband since the early days. Hammonds met Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts when they were both teenagers in high school. Their first child, daughter Kynlee, was born in November 2018. The couple announced their engagement in 2021 and got married on December 1 of that year.
Mookie Betts' wedding took place in Palos Verdes, California. The five-time all-star celebrated with plenty of his Dodgers teammates, including Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, Dave Roberts, Kenley Jansen and Joe Kelly. The MLB player's wife celebrated their second anniversary on Instagram in 2023, writing, "Happy Anniversary to My Best friend! 2 years in this thang!"
Cole Tucker and Vanessa Hudgens
Although her husband doesn't currently play in the big leagues, Vanessa Hudgens was once an MLB wife! The former Disney child star married Cole Tucker in Mexico on December December 2, 2023. The actress met the former Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop through a virtual Zoom mediation event in 2020, and she made the first move. "If I want something or someone, I'm going after them," she said on The Drew Barrymore Show. "I fully just slid into his DMs and was like, 'Hey, it was nice to meet you.'"
And the rest was history. Tucker proposed to Hudgens in Paris in late 2022, and they hosted their nuptials the following year. Just a few short months after becoming husband and wife, Hudgens confirmed that they're expecting their first child by debuting her baby bump on the Oscars red carpet.
Gerrit Cole and Amy Crawford
Baseball is responsible for bringing MLB wife Amy Crawford and New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole together. The couple met while they were both attending UCLA to play for the Bruins' baseball and softball teams. (Interestingly enough, Amy has another tie to the MLB: Her brother, Brandon, plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.) Romance sparked once these two first crossed paths, and they've been together ever since.
Gerrit and Amy Cole got married on November 12, 2016, at The Ritz-Carlton in Santa Barbara, California. Four years after their coastal nuptials, the Coles welcomed their first child, a son named Caden, in June 2020. They expanded their family once again in 2023 with their second child, Everett.
Manny Machado and Yainee Alonso
Yainee Alonso is yet another baseball wife who met her husband through the MLB. Alonso was introduced to San Diego Padres infielder Manny Machado through her brother, former MLB player Yonder Alonso. The couple hit it off and began dating in 2011, and were married three years later.
Manny Machado's wedding took place in November 2014, which means this MLB couple will celebrate their milestone 10th anniversary in 2024. Although he doesn't often post about his wife online, Machado penned a sweet tribute in honor of her birthday in 2020. "Happy birthday to the most beautiful amazing person in this planet, that I get to call my wife!!!!," he captioned a photo of her holding a blown-up poster of his face. "Wishing you nothing but continuous happiness and love forever I love you!!!!!!!! May all your wishes become reality!!!!! Forever my sweetheart."
Derek Jeter and Hannah Jeter
While he's no longer in the MLB, former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has one of our favorite baseball love stories. The prolific athlete, who spent his entire career with the team, was often subject to media scrutiny around his romantic life throughout his historic career. After a string of high-profile relationships, the athlete quietly married model Hannah (Davis) Jeter in 2016 after dating for four years.
The couple never formally shared their own wedding photos, though paparazzi cameras captured the two exchanging vows at Meadowood Napa Valley Resort in St. Helena, California. Since their nuptials, the couple welcomed four children together. The athlete praised his wife in his emotional Hall of Fame induction speech in 2021, saying, "You're thoughtful, you're caring, you've been an incredible wife and even more amazing mother…I couldn't be luckier. Let me say it again, let me clarify. I couldn't be luckier that our paths crossed when they did. I love you so much, and there's been nothing more fulfilling in my life."
Matt Treanor and Misty May-Treanor
We can't help but love when athlete romances cross over into different sports. Such is the case for former MLB player Matt Treanor, who's married to iconic Olympian Misty May-Treanor. The former catcher met the beach volleyball player at a sports therapy facility in California in November 2003. By March of the following year, they were engaged. Matt and Misty May-Treanor got married in November 2004, and have since welcomed a daughter in 2014, and a set of twins in 2017.
