Like it did for many of us, COVID-19 derailed plans for Ryan and Kat Pressly. Major League Baseball postponed the start of its 2020 season, which allowed Ryan, pitcher for the Houston Astros, to trade long hours on the field and traveling with his teammates for extended quality time with his wife and two dogs. The Presslys, who celebrated their first anniversary in January, took up gardening in Houston and at their ranch outside Dallas and enjoyed their time together as a newly married couple. Although they planned an extended honeymoon to coincide with Ryan's offseason, the trip had to be postponed, as well, and was instead spent appreciating quiet time at home.
The self-professed homebodies wouldn't have it any other way. A typical night includes eating dinner, Ryan handles the grill while Kat prepares the side dishes and salad, and a long bike ride through the neighborhood with their two large dogs. "Ryan has always been a huge homebody, and I think a mixture of being with Ryan and also COVID has made me learn to appreciate being home more, too," says Kat. "People have this expectation that baseball players like to be out partying, but honestly, the last thing Ryan wants to do after practice or a game is party."
The new year has brought about some changes to their housing situation, as well. The couple decided to sell their traditional home in Houston's West University area and move into a condo in the Montrose neighborhood. Kat, a realtor with Greenwood King Properties, says she and Ryan haven't decided where to put down permanent roots because of his baseball schedule. They also haven't decided on their ideal home aesthetic, but Kat credits being a realtor with opening her up to different home styles. "The thing that I love about Houston, especially compared to other cities, is that there is so much diversity in the homes here," says Kat. "There aren't as many rules about what you can do with your architecture, and no matter what neighborhood you are in, you can walk around and find different styles and ways of living."
One thing the couple can agree on is enjoying Ryan's offseason on their ranch. They broke ground on a ranch house in January and hope to have the home completed by November. Planning the open concept ranch retreat is a favorite pastime for Kat. She draws inspiration from their travels and social media, magazines and has also taken an interest in reading about architecture. "We are keeping the ranch house neutral and bringing in a lot of natural elements and color with the décor."
The couple is also planning for another significant addition, this time to their family – they are expecting their first child in July. "When Ryan found out we are having a boy, he threw his fists in the air. We are both so excited to see what the next few months have in store for us," says the newly pregnant Kat. "I really wanted to have extra time with Ryan before we started our family, and the time we spent together during the pandemic has given that to us."