Tarik Skubal and his wife Jessica Valandingham fell in love while attending Kingman High School in Arizona, which led to their marriage.
Pitcher Tarik Skubal plays professionally for the Major League Baseball (MLB) Detroit Tigers.
In 2020, the Tigers selected Skubal in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB draft, which led to his Major League Baseball debut.
He became the first American League pitcher to win the Cy Young Award and Triple Crown in an entire season since 2011 and was selected as an All-Star in 2024.
Congratulations to 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the @Tigers! pic.twitter.com/QXgOlc0gmb
— MLB (@MLB) November 20, 2024
They topped off Tarik’s 28th birthday celebration by announcing him as the AL Cy Young winner on Wednesday.
However, his happiness didn’t end there; his wife Jessica later surprised him, brightening his day even more.
Tarik Skubal’s Wife Jessica Celebrated His Birthday by Surprising Him With a Brand-New Car
A second video of Skubal has gone viral, in addition to announcing his Cy Young title.
MLB shared a video of Skubal celebrating his 28th birthday with his wife and friends on Twitter.
A camera captured his birthday party, showing that his wife gave him a car as a birthday present.
Although it does not mention the car’s model and type, it is apparent that someone parked the black car a short distance away, preventing the birthday boy from seeing his surprise in advance.
Tarik Skubal's wife surprised him with a new car for his birthday
— MLB (@MLB) November 21, 2024
His friends surprised him with … pic.twitter.com/2ZmWm6fkPr
Skubal is clearly surprised and confused by his wife’s surprise in the video.
His buddies splash him with champagne at the end of the video, which he appears to enjoy.
Fans reacted differently to the viral video: some claimed she purchased the gift using Skubal’s funds, while others appreciated the surprise.
Tarik Skubal and His Wife Jessica Were in a Long-Distance Relationship for Four Years
Tarik Skubal found his true love, Jessica Valandingham, at Kingman High School. They have been together since then and have grown as a pair.
Before Skubal proposed to her in December 2020, they were in a long-distance relationship during their four years of college.
The couple married on November 20, 2021, after going through high school and college and experiencing many highs and lows together.
Skubal’s wife Jessica is a tax accountant with two years of experience at Deloitte as a tax senior and consultant.
Jessica also held positions at Adan Repair, LLC, Advance Management & Investment, LLC, and Henry+Horne.
She received her degree from Yavapai College and later studied accounting at Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree.
She also attended Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, where she earned a Master’s degree in Taxation.
Although she lives in Chandler, Arizona, she is originally from Kingman, Arizona, in the United States.
Furthermore, Jessica has a private Instagram account and isn’t very active on social media, though she occasionally appears on Tarik’s Instagram.
Tarik Skubal and his wife, Jessica Skubal, are parents of a boy, Kasen Tyler Skubal, born on October 18, 2023.
The couple lives happily in Chandler with their son and two dogs, Luna and Ella.
Additional Information
- Skubal’s parents, Russ and Laura, reside in Kingman, Arizona. His dad works as a coach and teacher.
- He played collegiate baseball for Seattle University’s Seattle Redhawks, the only NCAA Division I school to provide him with a scholarship.
- Skubal has one stepbrother, Will, and three biological brothers, Tyler, Trevor, and Trent.
