| Bowden Francis | |
|---|---|
| Toronto Blue Jays – No. 44 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1996-04-22)April 22, 1996 (age 28) Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 27, 2022, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics (through August 29, 2024) | |
| Win–loss record | 9–3 |
| Earned run average | 3.03 |
| Strikeouts | 111 |
| Teams | |
| |
Robert Bowden Francis (/ˈbaʊdɛn/BOW-den;[1] born April 22, 1996) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theToronto Blue Jays ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by theMilwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Blue Jays.
Francis was born inTallahassee, Florida. He attendedChipola College inMarianna, Florida, and was drafted by theMilwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the2017 Major League Baseball draft.[2]
Francis made his professional debut with theArizona League Brewers, pitching to a 8.10earned run average (ERA) in four games.[3] Francis split the 2018 season between theClass–AWisconsin Timber Rattlers and theAdvanced–ACarolina Mudcats, posting a 7–10win–loss record, 4.50 ERA, and 106strikeouts in 128innings pitched.[3] The following season, Francis split the year between Carolina and theDouble–ABiloxi Shuckers, and posted an 8–9 record, 3.97 ERA, and 165 strikeouts in 1422⁄3 innings of work.[3] Francis did not play in a game in 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic's cancellation of the minor league season.[4] Francis began the 2021 season with Biloxi before being promoted to theTriple–ANashville Sounds at the end of May. In 11 games between the two levels, Francis logged a 7–3 record and 3.62 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 592⁄3 innings pitched.[3]
On July 6, 2021, Francis was traded to theToronto Blue Jays along withTrevor Richards in exchange forRowdy Tellez.[5] He was assigned to the Triple-ABuffalo Bisons and remained with the team for the rest of the minor league season. In 73 innings for the Bisons, Francis went 6–4 with a 4.19 ERA and 71 strikeouts.[3] He was added to the 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021.[6]
On April 25, 2022, Francis was called up by the Blue Jays.[7] He made only one appearance against theBoston Red Sox, tossing a scoreless2⁄3 inning with one strikeout. On June 18, Francis was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple-A.[8]
He began the 2023 season with Triple-A Buffalo, making four starts and recording a 3.45 ERA with 23 strikeouts in15+2⁄3 innings pitched. On June 6, 2023, Francis had his contract selected to the major league roster.[9] In 20 relief outings for Toronto, he recorded a 1.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts across36+1⁄3 innings pitched.[10]
Entering the 2024 season, the Blue Jays announced that Francis would be part of their season–opening rotation.[11] On August 24, 2024, Francis threw 8no-hit innings against theLos Angeles Angels beforeTaylor Ward hit a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth to break it up. This was the first time a Blue Jay threw 8 no-hit innings sinceBrandon Morrow went8+2⁄3 versus theTampa Bay Rays in 2010 and would have been the second no-hitter in Blue Jays history followingDave Stieb in 1990 vs theCleveland Indians. After following this performance with 7 innings of 1 hit ball against theBoston Red Sox on August 29, Francis was named theAmerican League Pitcher of the Month, becoming the 2nd Jays pitcher to win the award in 2024 afterJose Berrios. On September 11, 2024, Francis again threw 8 no-hit innings at home, this time against theNew York Mets, only forFrancisco Lindor to hit a game-tying leadoff home run, and the Mets to win 6–2. Francis became the second pitcher in Blue Jays history to have multiple no-hit bids of 8 innings, following Stieb, and the first pitcher in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to have multiple no-hit bids of 8 innings within his first 11 career starts.[12] He also became the first pitcher to lose multiple no-hit bids in the 9th inning in a season sinceNolan Ryan in 1989.[13]
Francis was named forBobby Bowden.[14]
Francis's mother died from breast cancer in 2014.[14] Francis's younger brother, Harrison, was selected by theArizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the2017 Major League Baseball draft.[15]