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INDIANAPOLIS — Texas running back Bijan Robinson knows the math may be against him, but he said there should be no hesitation about selecting him early in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft.

Robinson, who won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back, said if it makes the league’s decision-makers feel better, they should just call him a player who can “create mismatches all over the field,” even if it means lining him up at wide receiver.

“First of all, I feel like if you’re a guy who can do all three for your offense, I think that’s a very special quality for a player,” Robinson said Saturday at the NFL scouting combine. “You line a player up at receiver, at slot or, obviously, at running back. Just creating mismatches all over the field and being able to create space for yourself … that’s a high value everybody should look at.”

Robinson, a unanimous All-America selection in 2022, ranks fourth in Longhorns history with 3,410 rushing yards, including 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season. He also led the nation’s running backs in broken tackles.

He is ranked as the No. 6 overall draft prospect by ESPN NFL Draft insider Mel Kiper Jr.

Robinson said he hope he matches the draft fortunes of the New York GiantsSaquon Barkley, who many have compared him to. Barkley was selected at No. 2 in the 2018 draft — the highest pick for a running back since Reggie Bush was taken No. 2 in 2006.

Many personnel executives in the league believe drafting a running back in the top half of the first round is unwise.

“I don’t want to say it’s unfair. … You just never know on that day where you’re going to go,” Robinson said. “For me, it’s important to keep enjoying the moment. We might get to draft day and some surprise could happen. You just never know.”

Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., the consensus No. 1 pick by ESPN’s analysts, said earlier this week at the combine that Robinson was the best opposing player he had faced in his career.

“I appreciate him saying that,” Robinson said. “It’s cool to have somebody like that in your corner. … I just feel at the size that I’m at and the things I can do on the field, whether it’s pass catch, line up at receiver, line up at slot. Just pretty much line up anywhere you need me to be; if you can run routes and the next play, line up and run between the tackles.”

Asked about his own evaluation of his play, Robinson invoked the name of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

“I’m a knee-bender when I run the ball, and another guy who was a knee-bender was Barry Sanders,” Robinson said. “To try to redirect, to try to be as low to the ground as you can and understand you’ve got to feel defenders and read their shoulders and read angles, to try to break as a many tackles as you can. … I take pride in that.

“… I’m trying to dissect it, trying to create open holes, create lanes for myself no matter what it is, eight in the box, nine in the box, seven in the box. I’m just trying always to find ways.”

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Greene returning to Reds rotation for playoff push

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Greene returning to Reds rotation for playoff push

Hunter Greene will return to the Cincinnati Reds‘ rotation Wednesday night.

The right-hander will start against visiting Philadelphia after being out since June 4 with a strained right groin. The same injury sidelined Greene for two weeks in May.

Greene is 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 11 starts this season. The 26-year-old was selected to the All-Star Game last year for the first time.

In three rehab starts for Triple-A Louisville, Greene allowed 11 runs in 11 innings.

Cincinnati (61-57) entered Sunday 2½ games behind the New York Mets for the third wild-card spot in the National League.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Phillies call up Robertson, 40, for bullpen assist

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Phillies call up Robertson, 40, for bullpen assist

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Philadelphia Phillies recalled 40-year-old reliever David Robertson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday, three weeks after he signed a free agent deal with the National League East leaders.

Robertson made six relief appearances with Lehigh Valley and had a 10.13 ERA, though he had four scoreless outings. He struck out six, walked one and allowed 11 hits and six runs in 5⅓ innings.

The Phillies made the move before their series finale at Texas, where Robertson was 3-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 68 games last season.

Right-hander Alan Rangel was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the 26-man roster.

Over his 16-year major league career, Robertson has a 2.91 ERA in 861 games, all but one of those in relief. This is his third stint with the Phillies, first as a free agent before the 2019 season and then after being acquired in a trade from the Chicago Cubs in 2022. He played nine seasons with the Yankees over two different times in New York, which drafted him in the 17th round of the 2006 amateur draft.

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Ohtani hits 40-HR mark for 4th time in career

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Ohtani hits 40-HR mark for 4th time in career

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th home run of the season Saturday night in the fifth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ 9-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ohtani hit a solo shot 417 feet to center off starter Chris Bassitt to give the Dodgers a three-run lead.

“That was one of those swings where he was behind the ball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He stayed into the ground. I know he and the hitting guys have been working on some things mechanically. That was as good of a swing as you’re going to see.”

Ohtani was not made available to the media.

The two-way Japanese star reached 40 homers for the fourth time in his career — and the third straight season — after winning MVP awards in each of the previous three years he did it.

He is the third player with multiple 40-HR seasons in the American League and National League, joining Jim Thome and Mark McGwire.

He did it this time in his 115th game, the fewest needed to reach the mark in a season in Dodgers history.

With 45 regular-season games left, Roberts was asked if he thought Ohtani could reach 55.

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Roberts said. “Guys like Shohei always look for something to motivate them. He likes round numbers. I know 50 is on his radar. We’ll see how it goes.”

Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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