Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis
Francis with the Kansas City Royals in 2011
Cincinnati Reds – No. 26
Pitcher
Born: January 8, 1981 (1981-01-08) North Delta, British Columbia
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 25, 2004 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics (through 2011)
Win-Loss	61-66
Earned run average	4.78
Strikeouts	694
Complete games	3
Teams
Colorado Rockies (2004–2010) Kansas City Royals (2011)

Jeffrey William Francis (born January 8, 1981, in North Delta, British Columbia) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.

Early life

Francis attended Burnsview Junior Secondary School and North Delta Senior Secondary School in North Delta, British Columbia. After playing for the North Delta Blue Jays of the B.C. Premier Baseball League, the highest calibre junior league in Canada, Francis went on to pursue a major in physics at the University of British Columbia while playing for the UBC Thunderbirds. He was selected in the 1st round (9th pick overall) by the Colorado Rockies in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. Along with Adam Loewen, who was selected at fourth overall in the same draft, the two received much publicity as they were drafted higher than any other Canadian baseball players up to that time.^{[citation needed]} Francis was signed by Greg Hopkins.

Professional career

Minor leagues

In 2004, Francis was named Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and USA Today, becoming the first player in Colorado Rockies organizational history to win either of the awards. He became the fourth different player to be honored in the same season by both publications, joining Andruw Jones (1995–1996), Rick Ankiel (1999), and Josh Beckett (2001). Combined between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs, Francis went 16–3 with a 2.21 ERA and .194 average against in 24 starts. He struck out 196 batters in 154.2 innings pitched, for a ratio of 11.4 per nine innings. He had more strikeouts than hits (108) and walks (29) combined.

Major leagues

Francis while with the Colorado Rockies

2004: rookie year

Francis made his major league debut on August 25, 2004, against the Atlanta Braves, losing the 8–1 decision. He pitched five innings, allowing six runs (on three home runs), walking one, while striking out eight hitters. He earned his first career victory on September 5, 2004, against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 5–2 victory for the Rockies.

Francis finished the year with a 3–2 record, with an ERA of 5.16

2006

Francis played for Canada at the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

On September 23, 2006, Francis notched his 30th career win against the Atlanta Braves. In the process, he passed Brian Bohanon to become the left-handed pitcher with the most wins in Rockies history.

On November 22, 2006, Francis signed a four-year deal worth $13.25 million, carrying an option for a fifth year at $9million. Under MLB rules, the option year would be his first year eligible for free agency. The contract will allow the Rockies/Francis to avoid going to arbitration every year.

2007

On October 3, 2007, Francis became the first Canadian starting pitcher to win a Major League Baseball postseason game by beating the Philadelphia Phillies. It was his first postseason appearance.

On October 24, 2007, Francis became the first Canadian starting pitcher to pitch in the World Series but struggled in lasting only four innings and allowing six runs. The Rockies went on to lose the game 13 - 1.

2008–09: injury-plagued

Like many of his Rockies teammates, Francis struggled to replicate his 2007 success during the 2008 season. He finished the year with a 4–10 record and a 5.01 ERA in 21 starts, although he reported pitching through shoulder soreness for much of the season.

Francis underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder on February 25. As a result, he missed the entire 2009 season. In addition, the surgery forced Francis to decline the invitation to play for Team Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic

2010

In his first game back since his injury, Francis pitched seven innings, allowing two walks and seven hits in a 3–2 Rockies win over the Nationals on May 16, 2010. Francis pitched in 20 games for the Rockies in 2010 posting a 4–6 record with a 5.00 ERA

2011

On January 14, 2011, Francis agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals for $2 million plus performance bonuses. He became Kansas City's #2 Starter and led them in most pitching categories throughout the first half of the year. He elected free agency on October 30.

2012

On January 25, 2012, Francis agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Personal life

Francis and his wife Allison Padfield were married on December 31, 2005, in London, Ontario. In late 2009, Allison gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Cameron. Currently, they still live in Denver area. Jeff frequents neighborhood grocery stores wearing a Vancouver Canucks hat, even though the Canucks are hated in the Denver area due to the infamous "Moore-Bertuzzi" incident.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Baseball Almanac Jeff Francis Page
• "A Magnus Force on the Mound" profile in symmetry magazine