Glenn Anthony "TJ" House (born September 29, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays from 2014 to 2017.

TJ House
House with the Cleveland Indians in 2014
Pitcher
Born: (1989-09-29) September 29, 1989 (age 35)
Slidell, Louisiana, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 17, 2014, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
August 25, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Win–loss record5–7
Earned run average4.44
Strikeouts90
Teams

Early life

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House was born in Slidell, Louisiana, and moved to Picayune, Mississippi, as a child. His stepfather's family owns Liuzza's, a restaurant in the New Orleans area. While in high school, he was displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina; his family's house flooded and a tree was blown through his bedroom.[1]

Career

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Cleveland Indians

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House attended Picayune Memorial High School, where he starred for his school's baseball team.[2] The Indians drafted House in the 16th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He began his professional career with the Class-A Lake County Captains in 2009. That year, he had a win–loss record of 6–11, a 3.15 earned run average (ERA), and 109 strikeouts. He spent the next two years with the Kinston Indians, going 6–10 in 2010 and 6–12 in 2011.[3] He was an invite to spring training in 2012, but was kept in the bullpen, and the Indians front office considered releasing him if he did not perform well the following season.[1]

House split the 2012 season with the Carolina Mudcats and Akron Aeros. In 23 games with the Aeros, he went 8–5 with a 3.98 ERA.[3] The Indians added him to their 40-man roster after the 2012 season.[4] House spent the 2013 season with the Aeros and the Triple–A Columbus Clippers. The Indians promoted House from the minors on June 24, 2013.[5] After making no appearances in any major-league games, House was optioned back to Columbus for the remainder of the season.[6]

House spent the first 1.5 months of the 2014 season with the Clippers, going 1–4 with a 3.79 ERA and 42 strikeouts in ten games.[3] The Indians promoted House to the major leagues on May 17, 2014, and he made his major league debut that day.[6] For the season, he had five wins, three losses, and a 3.35 ERA in 19 appearances. House missed much of the 2015 season with left shoulder inflammation, and posted an ugly 13.15 ERA in 4 games for Cleveland.

House spent much of the 2016 season in Columbus, and also logged a 3.38 ERA in 4 major league games. House was designated for assignment by the Indians on September 20, 2016. After clearing waivers, House was outrighted to Columbus on September 27. He elected free agency following the season on November 7.[7]

Toronto Blue Jays

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House in 2017

On December 14, 2016, House signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[8] House was struck in the head by a line drive on March 10, 2017, during a spring training game in Lakeland, Florida. He remained on the ground for many minutes being attended to by medical staff, and left the field in an ambulance.[9] He was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the 2017 season.

On August 19, House was called up to the major leagues by the Blue Jays.[10] He was designated for assignment on August 27 after recording a 4.50 ERA in 2 appearances.[11] On October 13, House elected free agency.[12]

Chicago White Sox

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On January 22, 2018, House signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[13] He was assigned to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, but was released on June 12, 2018 after struggling to a 6.81 ERA in 9 games.[14]

Milwaukee Milkmen

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On May 13, 2019, House signed with the Milwaukee Milkmen of the independent American Association. In 17 games for the team, House pitched to a 7–9 record and 4.35 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 111 23 innings pitched.

Kansas City T-Bones

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On August 24, 2019, House was traded to the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association. He pitched in three games for the T-Bones, logging a 2–0 record and 3.52 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 15 13 innings pitched.[citation needed]

Eastern Reyes del Tigre

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On March 3, 2020, House was traded to the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. However, the 2020 ALPB season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. House stayed in Sugar Land, however, and signed on to play for the Eastern Reyes del Tigre of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4-team independent league created as a result of the pandemic) for the 2020 season. After recording a 3.38 ERA and 1–2 record in 7 games, he became a free agent after the year.

Personal life

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House came out as gay on December 8, 2022, announcing his engagement to his boyfriend, Ryan Neitzel.[15] They were married on March 29, 2024.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b Meisel, Zack (July 21, 2014). "T.J. House's journey through triumph and trying times en route to his first win with the Cleveland Indians". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  2. ^ Giardina, AJ (June 24, 2013). "Cleveland recalls pitcher T.J. House of Picayune to the Indians". WLOX. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "T.J. House Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  4. ^ "Tribe adds four Minor Leaguers to 40-man roster". MLB.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  5. ^ Crow, Chuck (November 1, 2011). "Cleveland Indians recall T.J. House and option Carlos Carrasco to Class AAA Columbus". The Plain Dealer. cleveland.com. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Indians Recall Lefty House From Triple-A Columbus". The Alliance Review. May 17, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  7. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (December 14, 2016). "Blue Jays sign left-hander T.J. House to minor league deal". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  9. ^ Odom, Jeff (March 10, 2017). "Reliever House struck in head by line drive". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  10. ^ "Blue Jays promote left-hander T.J. House from triple-A". Sportsnet. August 19, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  11. ^ "Blue Jays designate T.J. House for assignment, call up Joe Biagini". Sportsnet. August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  12. ^ "TJ House Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "White Sox's T.J. House: Inks NRI deal with White Sox". CBSSports.com. January 22, 2018.
  14. ^ Todd, Jeff (June 13, 2018). "White Sox Release T.J. House". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  15. ^ Schultz, Ken (December 10, 2022). "Former MLB pitcher TJ House comes out with emotional public announcement about his engagement to his boyfriend". outsports.com. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  16. ^ Gartland, Dan. "Pioneering Gay MLB Player TJ House Marries Partner". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
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