Longpre moves up to Class A

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes playing minor league baseball.

Bryan Longpre (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) pitcher, Dunedin Blue Jays: Less than two months after signing a free-agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, Longpre has already earned his first promotion.

After spending most of the summer playing for Gulf Coast Blue Jays, Longpre, a former All-Area player and Cal State Northridge graduate, was assigned Sunday to Dunedin, a Class A advanced team in the Florida State League.

Longpre, a right-hander, went 1-1 with eight saves and a 3.63 earned-run average with the Gulf Coast Jays. In 15 appearances, Longpre struck out 18 and allowed 11 runs (seven earned) in 17 1/3 innings.

Longpre, 23, picked up his last save with the Gulf Coast Jays on Aug. 10. While he allowed a solo home run in the seventh inning, Longpre collected the save in the Blue Jays’ 9-8 victory against the Gulf Coast Braves.

Entering Monday’s game against the Brevard County Manatees, Dunedin is 21-29 and in last place in the North Division. The Blue Jays won the first-half championship and are 62-58 overall.

Jason Hirsh (St. Francis High, 2000) pitcher, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees: Hirsh, a right-hander, improved to 9-7 on the season Monday night. Hirsh yielded four hits and two earned runs in five innings in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 7-4 victory against the host Toledo Mud Hens.

Hirsh, who was acquired last season from the Colorado Rockies, walked four and struck out two.

He tossed 106 pitches, including 61 for strikes. Hirsh, whose earned-run average is now 3.96, allowed two runs in the fourth inning that knotted the contest at 2. However, the Yankees scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. He induced four grounders and nine fly balls.

Hirsh has thrown 120 1/3 innings this season for Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

In 25 appearances, including 18 starts, Hirsh has struck out 94 and allowed 55 runs (53 earned) for the Yankees, who improved to 72-50.

Fernando Rios (Glendale High, 1997) outfielder, Dorados de Chihuahua: Rios turned in another respectable season for Dorados de Chihuahua. The former Nitro standout batted .314 (49 for 156) with three home runs and 21 runs batted in. He scored 31 runs in 54 games and finished with four doubles and one triple.

Rios, 31, hit safely in seven of his last 10 games for Dorados de Chihuahua, which finished its season at the end of July at 31-23 and in third place in the Mexican League’s Madero Division.

Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (St. Francis High, 2000) designated hitter, Leones de Yucatan: Valenzuela, who also stood out at Glendale Community College, ended his season in July on a tear. Valenzuela, 28, hit safely in nine of his last 10 games for Leones de Yucatan, a member of the Mexican League.

During that stretch, Valenzuela batted .361 (13 for 36) and scored four runs for Leones de Yucatan, which finished 26-25 and in fifth place in the Hidalgo League.

Overall, Valenzuela batted .308 (90 for 292) with six home runs and 49 runs batted in.

He finished with 19 doubles and scored 35 runs.