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By Maren Angus-Coombs
Contributing Sports Writer
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Kumar Rocker will make his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers on Thursday with someone special in the stands cheering him on.
Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, Kumar's dad, will be in attendance for his son's historic debut. When his son takes the mound, he will become the first player of Indian descent to appear in the big leagues.
His mother Lalitha's parents immigrated to the United States in 1965.
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Tracy plans to fly back to Nashville after Thursday's game, which starts at 8:40 p.m. CT, and return in time for the Titans' Friday afternoon practice as they get ready for Sunday's home opener at Nissan Stadium against the New York Jets.
Both Tracy and Kumar have the support of the Titans, who took to social media with words of encouragement.
"I'm so happy for the Rocker family," Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said Thursday. "I've been around the Rocker family for many years. I know his son very well and I understand the relationship he has with his son. So for him as a coach, he's going to do this work, his due diligence. The players understand he's going to get on that plane and forget being a coach. Now he's one of the happiest parents in the world."
Kumar's journey to this point has been a lengthy one.
After a standout college career at Vanderbilt, Rocker was selected 10th overall by the Mets in the 2021 amateur draft but went unsigned due to medical concerns. Texas drafted him third overall in 2022, and following his recovery from Tommy John surgery in May 2023, he earned the promotion.
"He's been through a tough road with this rehab," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said, "but he's worked hard and he's earned this the way he's thrown the ball. The numbers are really impressive.
"That's why we wanted to bring him up, reward him, and let him get a feel what it's like up here."
The 24-year-old has been impressive through 10 games in the minor leagues. He has posted a 1.96 ERA across 10 games for three different Rangers affiliates since July 5. In his final two rehab starts with Triple-A Round Rock, he recorded 18 strikeouts over 10 innings.
Overall, Rocker tallied 47 strikeouts and just four walks in 29.2 innings over seven combined starts between Double-A Frisco and Round Rock.
"Forget being a coach. Now he's the happiest parent, you know, one of the happiest parents in the world," Wilson added. "And to be able to go to see your son throw out the first pitch in a Major League Baseball game and your son has gone through the adversity he has and went through the minors to get to this point? Man, it's a hell of a feeling."
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