Texas Rangers

Rua Looking Forward to Hometown Debut

Ryan Rua has done everything the Rangers have asked of him this year and the results have generally been strong to quite strong.

With Shin-Soo Choo back on the disabled list three innings after his return last weekend, it opened up more playing time again for the versatile Rua, who has played at first base and in the outfield this year after starting his pro career as a second baseman.

Rua is hitting .284 this year with two homers and eight RBIs in 30 games and over the last five games, he's batting .444 with a double and two RBIs, and now he's set to make his big-league debut in his hometown ballpark when the Rangers open a series against the Cleveland Indians Monday evening at Progressive Field.

Rua, who is from nearby Amherst and still lives there, played in a high school all-star game at the field, according to MLB.com, but his first at-bat there this week will be his first in a big-league uniform with likely loads of family on hand to watch.

He'll be squaring off against his boyhood team, which he unabashedly admits to being a massive fan of back in the good ol' days for the Indians — the late 90s.

"Always," Rua told MLB.com. "That's who I am. I remember Omar Vizquel, Roberto Alomar, Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez when he was there ... the '95 and '97 World Series. I probably went to 25 games a year with my family."

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