Bowden Francis

Bowden Francis's Biography

Robert Bowden Francis, a noteworthy figure in Major League Baseball (MLB), was born on April 22, 1996, in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a talented American professional baseball pitcher known for his successful career with the Toronto Blue Jays, as well as his compelling journey and accomplishments in the world of professional baseball.

Growing up, Francis cultivated a keen interest in baseball, a passion that carried forward into his academic years. Enabling him to combine academics with his sporting aspirations, Francis opted to attend Chipola College, located in Marianna, Florida. His powerful pitching capabilities were recognized in the 2017 MLB draft during the seventh round, where he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers.

His professional debut was staged with the Arizona League Brewers. Despite participating in merely four games, Francis made a lasting impression by scoring an earned run average (ERA) of 8.10. Throughout the 2018 season, Francis honed his skills playing for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Carolina Mudcats. He succeeded in maintaining a 7-10 win-loss record, a 4.50 ERA, and achieved a total of 106 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched.

The subsequent season of 2019 saw Francis split his time between Carolina and the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. Progressing steadily in his career, he managed to post an 8-9 record, an impressive 3.97 ERA, and a staggering 165 strikeouts through 1422⁄3 innings of his gameplay.

However, the 2020 season was a challenging period due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought about the cancellation of the minor league season. Francis, like many others, did not play a single game in 2020. The following year, he began his season with Biloxi, but moved up to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds by the end of May. Recording a respectable 7-3 record and a 3.62 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 592⁄3 innings, Francis further cemented his notable presence in the league.

As his career trajectory continued to ascend, Francis was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021, accompanied by Trevor Richards, in exchange for Rowdy Tellez. Following this significant trade, he was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and remained with the team for the remainder of the minor league season. By demonstrating consistent performance, Francis generated a 6-4 win-loss record, a 4.19 ERA, and 71 strikeouts over 73 innings.

On April 25, 2022, his MLB debut was announced as he was called up by the Blue Jays. Yet, Francis would only make one appearance against the Boston Red Sox during which he tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout. Francis started the 2023 season with Triple-A Buffalo, delivering four starts and clocking a 3.45 ERA along with 23 strikeouts in 15+2⁄3 innings pitched. On June 6, 2023, his contract was selected to the MLB roster, where he posted a record of a 1.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 36+1⁄3 innings pitched, over 20 relief outings.

Upon entering the 2024 season, the Blue Jays announced Francis as part of their season-opening rotation. A career highlight took place on August 24, 2024, when he pitched 8 no-hit innings against the Los Angeles Angels before the spell was broken by Taylor Ward hitting a leadoff home run in the ninth inning. It marked the first time a Blue Jay pitcher had pitched 8 no-hit innings since Brandon Morrow in 2010 and would have been the second no-hitter in Blue Jays’ history following Dave Stieb in 1990.

Francis, named after Bobby Bowden, has also faced personal challenges. He lost his mother to breast cancer in 2014, a tragedy that greatly affected him. His younger brother, Harrison, shares his love for baseball and was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB draft. Despite the trials and tribulations, Robert Bowden Francis continues to establish himself as a vibrant talent in the world of professional baseball.