Rocker’s journey to this point was not without its obstacles.Born to an African-American father and an Indian-American mother, he recently underwent Tommy John surgery and spent the last two months in rehabilitation. His focus during this time was on regaining his health and making an impact in minor league games.
However, Rocker’s impressive performance in his first MLB appearance showcased his resilience and talent, making his debut all the more remarkable. This milestone serves as a testament to the increasing diversity in American sports and the breaking down of cultural barriers.
Tommy John surgery is a surgical procedure that involves replacing a damaged or torn ulnar collateral ligament, located on the inner side of the elbow, with a tendon taken from another part of the patient’s body or a cadaver.
With the unwavering support of his dedicated parents, Kumar managed to recover from the surgery in time to make his highly anticipated debut in Major League Baseball.
Kumar’s mother’s parents originally came to the United States from Andhra Pradesh.
Kumar’s parents, Lalitha (also known as Lu) and Tracy, first crossed paths when Lu was pursuing her education at the University of Maryland, and Tracy was a player for the Washington Redskins.
Tracy had a successful stint in the NFL (National Football League) spanning two seasons. Currently, he holds the position of defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans, a role he has been fulfilling for the past seven seasons. Prior to this, from 2021 to 2023, he was associated with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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, has dedicated her career to the field of education.
With his parents cheering him on from the stands, Kumar had a shaky beginning to the match. However, he managed to compose himself and left a lasting impact by the end of the game, which culminated in his team’s triumph.
“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, as quoted by PTI.
Needless to say, his parents were delighted.
“It’s been an incredible journey and he has just come out fighting, putting his head down and, and just, just working hard. And he did phenomenal. He was so good out there. That is the nastiest pitch,” his mom Lu said.
“We were in shock. I mean, this is just so amazing to see. We talk about this all the time. How these debuts are a dream come true for parents, for the kids.”
Is this something you always saw him doing? You did football also, so was baseball always a part of the plan? His father responded, “Yes, we always saw it. She saw it (pointing to his wife) before I did.”
Lu added, “At two years old, I told my husband he is going to be a pitcher. Yes, it is a dream come true for all of us.”
Asked about her son’s fine comeback, riding on his calm demeanour, Lu said, “He gets that from his dad, he has been training for a very long time. His dad gave him great advice: just get out there and you take control and all the skill form his mom.”