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Mario Cristobal knows full well that keeping in-state players home is going to be key to bringing Miami back to the national prominence it enjoyed in the 1980s, early 90s and early 2000s.

Cristobal’s Hurricanes scored a significant in-state recruiting victory on Saturday courtesy of four-star safety Zaquan Patterson.

“Just it being home and everything that Cristobal’s trying to do with the program,” Patterson told ESPN. “Knowing his background, him (being a part of) a national championship team at Miami — he understands what it takes to bring us back to that point. It’s definitely a big thing for me. Everybody, you know, being from Miami, we support our team, support this team. We support it like nothing else.” Patterson (No. 76 overall in the 2024 ESPN 300), who plays for Florida high school powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna Prep, becomes the fifth ESPN 300 prospect from Florida to pledge to be part of the Hurricanes’ 2024 class.

“It’s more than that to us in Miami,” he said. “It’s just wanting to better the program, wanting to change it around.”

Patterson also considered Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State and Auburn.

He’ll join prep teammate, wide receiver Joshisa Trader (No. 11 overall in 2024), in Coral Gables and he’s the highest-ranked defensive recruit in Miami’s class, which jumped to 15th in ESPN’s latest team rankings.

“Yeah, absolutely (Trader) has been in my ear,” Patterson said. “Everybody wants me to play with them in college. I mean, we all played with each other growing up. Now this is the only time that we have to separate. So it is kind of like everybody, ‘Oh, you come with me, come with me.’ But I’m doing what’s best for me.”

Patterson is the eighth ESPN 300 member to commit to Miami for this current cycle as Cristobal looks to maintain the momentum on the trail gleaned from last season’s class, which finished fifth in ESPN’s final 2023 rankings.

Last year, the Hurricanes’ pass defense finished 10th in the ACC (233.6 YPG) but was opportunistic in creating chaos, evidenced by 14 interceptions (third in ACC).

In 11 games as a junior in 2022, Patterson recorded 69 tackles and two interceptions for a Chaminade-Madonna Prep team that went 13-1 and won a Florida Class 1M state title.

“Cornerback or safety? No, I personally don’t have a preference,” he said. “I feel like more action is at corner. But whatever I best can fit in at college is what I’m up for.

“I think I’ll be able to come in and make a big change early, with the type of energy I come with. I feel like Coach (Lance) Guidry came (from Marshall) with that energy as well — the new defensive coordinator. And I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do with some of those younger guys on the back end.”

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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

NEW YORK — Dan Iassogna will be the umpire crew chief and work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

His crew will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak in left and Erich Bacchus in right, Major League Baseball said Thursday.

Iassogna, 56, will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.

He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season. Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, ’17 and ’22 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.

Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.

Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.

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A’s Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

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A's Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.

Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.

“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”

Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.

His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.

The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.

Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.

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Mets recall Acuna from Triple-A, DFA Jankowski

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Mets recall Acuna from Triple-A, DFA Jankowski

BALTIMORE — The New York Mets recalled 23-year-old utility man Luisangel Acuna from Triple-A Syracuse before Thursday’s split doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

The brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., Luisangel Acuña went 13-for-45 (.286) for Syracuse after the Mets optioned him in late June.

Capable of playing second base, shortstop or the outfield, Acuna had batted .241 in 65 games before going to the minors.

“He was a big part of this team the first couple of months,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters. “We got to a point where we felt like, ‘Hey, let’s get him some everyday playing time. ‘And now it’s time for him to be back up here, continuing to help us win baseball games.”

In a corresponding move, the Mets designated outfielder Travis Jankowski for assignment.

Acuna was on the bench for New York’s first game of the doubleheader.

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