Post-playing life has been very good for TJ House. And last weekend gave him one of his biggest highlights to date as the former MLB relief pitcher got married to his partner, Ryan Neitzel.
The grooms made their marriage official during an outdoor wedding in New Orleans. In addition to the ceremony, the pair celebrated with loved ones in Big Easy style by leading their guests on a march through the streets accompanied by a jazz band.
House and Neitzel marched arm in arm at the front of the parade while holding parasols aloft to create a signature image for their special day.
In addition to the march, their wedding reception featured hand-rolled cigars and tarot readings.
A few days after the event, House used a baseball metaphor to channel his feelings on Instagram: “It’s that can’t eat, can’t sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, World Series kind of love.”
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As wedding planner Nicole Maddox Smith summed up the event on an Instagram post, “Marriage is not just about finding someone to share your life with; it’s about finding someone who makes every moment brighter, every challenge easier, and every joy more profound.”
“It was a GOOD FRIDAY celebrating Ryan and TJ!” she added.
Following his retirement after a four-year major league career as a relief pitcher with Cleveland and Toronto, House became the third former player in MLB history to come out publicly in a December 2022 Facebook post.
In addition to sharing his true self with the world, House also used the post to announce his engagement to Neitzel as part of his gratitude for the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.
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“It allows Ryan Neitzel and I to come together and create something beautiful,” he wrote, “It gives me the confidence to get engaged to the person I love (he said Yes!), to marry them. I have a wonderful fiancé, who challenges me daily to become a better person. To live life authentically. One who I never deserved but [am] blessed to have. Love, you see, it’s for everyone.”
House and Neitzel also made a public appearance at The White House to commemorate the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act.
After his coming out post brought his national attention and support, House has mostly kept a low profile on social media. He currently works as a realtor in the Cleveland area, where he pitched out of the bullpen from 2014 to 2016.
He’s created a new chapter for himself after baseball. And following this past weekend, he’s living it with his life partner.
