Kumar Rocker became the first player of Indian origin to appear in the Major League Baseball, representing a significant milestone in the history of one of America’s most popular sports.
The 24-year-old pitcher, who was born to an African American father and a mother of Indian descent, turned out for Texas Rangers against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, and he impressed straightaway, culminating a journey that had its share of challenges. Just two months ago, Kumar was undergoing rehabilitation, recovering from Tommy John surgery and hoping just to stay healthy while dreaming of making an impression in minor league games.
Tommy John surgery is a procedure in which a partial or fully torn ulnar collateral ligament on the medial side of the elbow is replaced with a tendon from another part of a patient’s body or from a cadaver. Backed to the hilt by his supportive parents, Kumar recovered in time for his much-anticipated MLB debut. His maternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from Andhra Pradesh. His parents met when his mother, Lalitha, also known as Lu, was a student at the University of Maryland and his father Tracy was playing for the Washington Redskins. Tracy excelled in the NFL (National Football league) for two seasons and currently works as a defensive line coach with the Tennessee Titans. He has been coaching them for the past seven seasons, having previously worked with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021 to 2023. During his playing days, Tracy turned up for Washington Commanders (formerly known as Washington Redskins) in 1989 and 1990, starting 17 games over two seasons. Kumar's mother Lu is an educator.
With his parents watching from the stands, Kumar didn't get off to the best of starts but regrouped to leave an impression by the time the match ended with his team's victory. “It means a lot to me. I think it means more to my mom. She always let me know that I was Indian growing up, being half and half. And I think she is going to be really happy about it," Kumar said.