Do the Blue Jays already have what they're looking for in Bowden Francis?
For those of you who don't know who Bowden Francis is, here is the nitty gritty.
Bowden Francis made his major league debut in 2022 with the Blue Jays after spending several years in the Brewers farm system.
The Milwaukee Brewers took him in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft and then traded him to Toronto in 2021 as part of the Rowdy Tellez/Trevor Richards deal.
The 28 year old Francis was announced as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff at the beginning of the 2024 season.
It was an early struggle for the Bowden to start 2024, giving up 14 earned runs and pitching to an 11.81 ERA in his first 3 games.
Francis also allowed 4 home runs in 10.2 innings pitched where he was quickly demoted to the bullpen then to the Buffalo Bisons.
After a two-week stint in Triple-A, Francis re-joined the rotation to replace the recently traded Yusei Kikuchi, pitching 5.2 innings in a doubleheader game while giving up three earned runs.
In his next start, Francis gave up two earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched, before starting one of the most dominating runs in recent history.
On August 12th 2024, Francis pitched seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels, striking out eight batters while giving up an earned run.
In Bowden's next start, he pitched seven innings again, this time with no runs allowed.
But his best start of his career to that point was on August 24th 2024, as he carried a no-hitter into the top of the ninth inning, striking out 12 batters while allowing three walks.
However, a home run to lead off the top of the ninth broke up his no-hit bid.
Francis was right back at it in his next start versus the Red Sox though, tossing a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning, Francis struck out five while allowing one hit in seven innings pitched.
His next game featured no attempt at a no-hitter, as he allowed three earned runs in six innings pitched.
But on September 11th at Rogers Centre, for the third time in four games, Francis flirted with the second no-hitter in Blue Jays history against the New York Mets, once again carrying a no-hitter into the top of the ninth.
Once again though, the top of the ninth was led off with a solo home run to break up Francis' no-hit bid.
Bowden Francis became the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1989 to lose 2 no-hit bids in the 9th inning in the same season.
Since that re-introduction to the Major Leagues, Francis made 10 starts and threw 65 innings, allowing a 1.80 ERA. He struck out 24.7% of batters faced, only walked batters 3.4% of the time and posted a downright stingy 0.60 WHIP.
Embedded in that stretch of dominance was�Player of the Week�and�American League Pitcher of the Month�awards.
That is good for the sixth-fewest hits allowed over a 10-start span in a single season, minimum 64 innings, since MLB's modern era began in 1901.
The only pitchers above Francis on that list are Jacob deGrom, Johan Santana, Brandon Woodruff, Nolan Ryan and Justin Verlander.
Plus, the aforementioned brushes with history that almost had fans citing his name in trivia questions for decades to come.
While Ross Atkins is out shopping for starters like Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, the Blue Jays might just have what they're looking for in Bowden Francis.
Bowden Francis' second half in 2024 was historical and has positioned himself to be an important piece for the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays' rotation.
If Bowden Francis is as dominant as his 2024 second half in this up coming season, the Blue Jays just might have an ace up their sleeve for 2025.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 6 | 210 ANSWERS Do the Blue Jays already have what they're looking for in Bowden Francis? Is Bowden Francis the Ace the Blue Jays are looking for? Or is he just a fifth starter? | ||
| Yes | 40 | 19 % |
| No | 35 | 16.7 % |
| Ace | 27 | 12.9 % |
| Fifth starter | 108 | 51.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
