Blue Jays manager John Schneider told the team’s beat this afternoon that right-hander Bowden Francis will be in the season-opening rotation (relayed by Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet). He’s tentatively scheduled to take the ball in the fourth game of the year at Tampa Bay.
That will be Francis’ first start at the major league level. Initially a seventh-round pick by the Brewers in 2017, Francis landed with the Jays in the 2021 deal that sent Rowdy Tellez to Milwaukee. He made it to the majors for one relief outing the following season but was sent outright from the 40-man roster not long after. Francis finished 2022 with a 6.59 ERA in Triple-A.
Needless to say, it didn’t seem at that time that he’d be only a season away from breaking camp in the Toronto rotation. Francis broke through with a very strong performance last year. After an early-season stint on the minor league injured list, he posted impressive numbers over 27 innings with Triple-A Buffalo. Francis turned in a 2.67 ERA while punching out more than 37% of batters faced at the top minor league level. That earned him another shot on the 40-man roster and his first extended stretch in the majors as a multi-inning reliever.
The 27-year-old Francis continued to impress against big league hitters. He turned in a sparkling 1.73 ERA in 36 1/3 innings spanning 20 appearances. While he didn’t maintain his eye-popping whiff rates from Triple-A, Francis fanned an above-average 25.7% of MLB opponents against a tidy 5.9% walk rate.
He has carried that strong production into Spring Training. Francis has tossed 18 2/3 innings over five appearances (four starts), allowing eight runs with 15 strikeouts and four free passes. That was enough to solidify himself as the next man up in the event that any of Toronto’s top five starters spent time on the injured list. Alek Manoah will begin the season on the shelf after battling shoulder soreness. It’s not expected to be a long-term issue but has kept him out of Spring Training action since his exhibition debut on February 27.
Toronto will give the ball to José Berríos on Opening Day. He’ll likely be followed by Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi and Francis. Ace Kevin Gausman is a bit behind because he dealt with what seemed to be minor shoulder fatigue earlier this month. He has expressed confidence he’ll avoid the injured list, although the Jays could keep him at the back of the first trip through the rotation to buy him a few extra days to continue building up.
Once Manoah is healthy, Francis might find himself bumped back to relief. He still has an option remaining, so the Jays could send him back to Buffalo if they want to keep him stretched out as a starter. He’ll at least get a few turns through the rotation in April to try to stake his claim to a permanent starting spot, his first chance to do so at the major league level.
Well deserved. Last year he was mostly pitching in low leverage situations, but he was consistantly good, even tho its a small sample size.
I was really high on him last year, good work from him, always knew he would be underrated
They open with a ten game road trip. At Tampa, Houston and NY. Rough.
That’s at their request I think to allow for overrun time on the stadium renos. That tour is tough. But at least they start in Tampa close to their spring home and do have a day off between Houston and NY.
Yankees and Astros both have hurting SP’s… much less worrisome currently.
He can’t pitch anymore?
Probably wrote halladay off too.
Put your hate aside and let a dude mature.
He came in way out of shape and the pitch clock monster also got him. He was due for some humble pie too after his offseason mouth. I honestly think Manoah needs a change of scenery. Hope he can get his value up a bit.
actually, no. lost a ton of weight (new wife is a nutritionist)
Youre a dud pal
Grow up, jack
It’s going to be a rough year for pitchers in Jay’s land. Hopefully there are enough hits to help Bowden out. Minimal hits require the pitchers to carry the game (again this year)
The offense will be better. I highly doubt all of Vlad, Kirk and Varsho underwhelm again this year, and the addition of a professional hitter like Turner should also help with that. I’m also a big believer in Matt Hague as a coach, he will be a much needed voice for the bats.
We’ll see, as you forgot to include IKF, Biggio and the possible drop off of Kiermaier.
I’m not expecting those guys to carry the offense though. If those bats are the ones that are the issue on the team, we will be in a good spot.
5 through 9 will need to perform. You expect the SP to be equal to what they were a year ago? Be healthy like they were a year ago? We are seeing issues already with the bullpen too. So yes, you better expect the guys I mentioned to contribute greatly to the offense. Especially considering how strong the East is.
Fingers crossed! It’s a long season.
Varsho didn’t underwhelm last year. He hit to who he is at the plate. That should be the expectation again this year
Revisiting the 2021 trade of Tellez for Francis and Richards. I think its fair to say the Jays made good on that trade. Richards has been serviceable and Francis is a back end starter with years of control. Do we dare give credit to Atkins?
Yes. Have to remember that they sent Francis to their new fancy pitching lab and added 3-4 mph to his fastball before last season.
Management has to get some credit for creating that facility.
Good luck Mr Francis!! It’ll be a shock to see him take the hump more then a few times even if injuries hit the staff hard. I’m rooting for him but he will have to miss a lot of bats to make it work.
Bowden has out-pitched Mitch. That was the battle.
And still everyone’s favorite Trevor waits.
Plouffe is retired
What is Trevor Noah waiting for?
A joke writer.
My question is where is Yusei?
Berrios, Bassitt, and Francis have all pitched 15+ innings and at least 4 games each so far in the spring.
According to his BR page, Kikuchi has thrown 4 1/3 innings in 2 games.
Kikuchi’s first game appearance was great, but he got blown up in his second and I haven’t seen him since, nor can I find any reference to an injury.
Bowden Francis should be solid as a #5, but where’s the #4?