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T.A. Cunningham, a top college football prospect who has been withheld from playing for weeks following a cross-country transfer, has been ruled eligible, the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section announced Monday.

Cunningham moved to California from Georgia in the summer but waited weeks to have his transfer approved by the Southern Section. Four games into the season, his high school, Los Alamitos, was informed that Cunningham was deemed ineligible.

Two weeks later, the section reversed its decision.

“We conducted a thorough review of the elements in this case, and all relevant CIF Bylaws that apply, as we do with all transfer applications that are submitted to our office,” a CIF Southern Section statement read. “We followed all our required processes and timelines in completing this review. Upon doing so, and after receiving new information that clarified issues related to the initial denial, we made the determination that the student was eligible to play at Los Alamitos High School as of [Monday].”

It is unclear what new information became available, and the section said it would not comment further about the process.

Cunningham had sought an injunction for immediate eligibility in Superior Court two weeks ago, but it was denied.

“We are ecstatic to see T.A. Cunningham take the field this week as a Griffin, and appreciative of the thorough process conducted by CIF,” Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton told ESPN in a text message.

Cunningham’s move to California was set into motion after representatives from Levels Sports Group, a would-be sports marketing company, sold the Cunningham family on the idea that they would be able to secure him marketing opportunities if he was playing California, where it is legal for high school athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness.

“The Levels Team promised that the Cunningham family would have a home, transportation and meals in California,” according to the injunction filed on Cunningham’s behalf. “A promise was even made that the Levels Team would provide a separate home in Georgia for [Cunningham’s] mother.”

When Cunningham moved to California, he and his younger brother stayed at the home of Levels co-founder Chris Flores, who was later arrested on Aug. 8 on multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor. Flores was known in high school football circles as “Coach Frogg.”

In the wake of Flores’ arrest, the company stopped communicating with Cunningham and later agreed to terminate the contract for the marketing agreement. Cunningham, a defensive end, is the top-ranked player in California in the Class of 2024 and the No. 33 overall prospect in the ESPN 300.

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Rockies put Freeland on IL due to strained elbow

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Rockies put Freeland on IL due to strained elbow

The Colorado Rockies placed left-hander Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left elbow strain.

The move is retroactive to Tuesday.

Freeland appeared to injure his right shoulder while attempting to score the go-ahead run in the ninth inning Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Manager Bud Black, however, said Freeland was “fine” after the game.

Freeland, 30, has limped to a 0-3 record with a 13.21 ERA in four games (all starts) this season. He is 55-68 with a 4.53 ERA in 188 career games (183 starts) with the Rockies.

Also on Friday, Colorado recalled right-hander Noah Davis from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Davis, 26, owns a 0-2 record with a 6.62 ERA in four games (all starts) with the Isotopes. He is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in nine career games (six starts) with the Rockies.

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Strider begins recovery, says Braves can win WS

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Strider begins recovery, says Braves can win WS

ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider began to feel discomfort in his right elbow in spring training but didn’t realize the severity of the injury until learning he needed season-ending surgery.

Strider said he had a bone fragment develop following Tommy John surgery in 2019 that caused the ulnar collateral ligament to become unstable. Strider also said he did not have a tear that required a second Tommy John surgery and he instead had an internal brace procedure, perhaps giving him a better opportunity to recover for the start of the 2025 season.

Strider finally complained about the issue after pitching four innings in Atlanta’s 6-5 win over Arizona on April 5.

“You’re not going to feel good when you’re playing baseball every day,” Strider said Friday while standing in front of his locker in his first news conference since the surgery. “So I’m not searching for that. You know, like I said, I’m going to pitch through anything if I feel like I can help the team and I felt like I couldn’t do that anymore, so I thought it’s time to say something.”

An MRI the next day revealed damage to his UCL. Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure on April 13.

“They’re theorizing that I tore some connective tissue … and that’s what destabilized the ligament,” Strider said. “And maybe I blew through the last of that on that game and things deteriorated pretty quickly throughout the outing.”

Strider was Atlanta’s No. 1 starting pitcher after going 20-5 with 281 strikeouts in last year, when he led the major leagues in wins and strikeouts.

With his right arm immobilized in a sling, Strider said he will look for ways to support his teammates.

“These guys don’t don’t need me to to win a World Series,” he said. “So you know they’re going to pursue that journey. I’ll be here here to cheer them on.”

Replacing Strider will be a challenge.

Right-hander Allan Winans allowed seven runs — six earned — over five innings in a 16-15 loss to the New York Mets on April 11 and was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after the game.

Right-hander Darius Vines had more success, allowing one run and four hits with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of a 6-1 win at Houston on Monday. Vines is scheduled to make his second start of the season on Sunday night against Texas.

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D-backs’ Nelson, hit by comebacker, lands on IL

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D-backs' Nelson, hit by comebacker, lands on IL

The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Ryne Nelson on the 15-day injured list Friday because of an elbow contusion suffered the previous night.

Nelson was hit on the right arm by a line drive off the bat of the San Francisco GiantsMike Yastrzemski during the second inning of his start Thursday night.

The team recalled outfielder Pavin Smith from Triple-A Reno in the corresponding roster move.

Smith, a first-round pick (seventh overall) of the Diamondbacks in 2017, hit .188 (36-for-191) in 69 games with Arizona last season, dropping his average to .240 in his four big-league seasons. He has 28 home runs and 116 RBIs in 391 games.

The Diamondbacks also designated infielder Jace Peterson for assignment. Peterson had only one hit in 22 at-bats for Arizona this season and hit .183 (17-for-93) through 41 games with the Diamondbacks in 2023.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.

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