While the baseball and soccer worlds have been busy with their regular season drama and athlete transfers, Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña and soccer star Julia Grosso made headlines for a very different reason this weekend. Instead of contract negotiations or game statistics, the couple took to Instagram to confirm the rumors—their relationship is official, complete with an indulgence of swoon-worthy pictures from a tropical getaway. Peña, who stepped in as the Astros shortstop and swiftly became the 2022 World Series MVP, is no stranger to catching interest from fans, but this time it's for his play off the field.
Indeed, it's the kind of off-season scoop that has nothing to do with batting averages or goal stats. The Astros player and the Canadian soccer sensation announced their relationship in a combined Instagram post featuring a gallery of dreamy photos that reveal they're more than teammates in sports. According to an article by the KHOU, Grosso is a fixture on the Canadian Women's National Team and recently signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Red Stars. Her storied career includes scoring the decisive penalty in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic final and securing gold for her team.
The reveal sent waves through the baseball and soccer communities, with reactions from various teammates and friends. As described in the Houston Chronicle, several of Grosso’s teammates with the Chicago Red Stars and the Canadian national team took to the comments section, while Astros catcher Yainer Diaz kept it cryptic with an eyeballs emoji.
Meanwhile, Grosso enjoys her spotlight. At 24, she already boasts an impressive resume with deep roots in the sport, going professional with a formidable start at a mere 13 years old with the Canadian U-15 squad. "I’m thrilled to be joining the Red Stars and can’t wait to hit the field every weekend and give it my all," Grosso said in the Red Stars press release. Her on-field prowess parallels Peña's, making them a formidable duo in their respective arenas. While Peña prepares for his fourth season with the Astros, Grosso gears up to dazzle fans at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago, a fact noted by both the KHOU and the Houston Chronicle.
