Before allowing a solo home run by Angel Taylor Ward in the ninth inning, Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis was three outs away from pitching the second no-hitter in team history.
Toronto’s 3-1 win over Los Angeles was Francis’s moment, as he set a career-high with 12 strikeouts in 117 pitches. The right-hander delivered his performance over eight-plus innings after being named the American League’s Player of the Week last week after going 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts.
Francis was greeted with a standing ovation as he made way for Chad Green after his first hit.
Here’s everything you need to know about Francis, who almost gave the Canadian team a memorable no-no.
MORE: Insider says Blue Jays could make significant organizational changes
Who is Bowden Francis?
Francis is a 28-year-old right-hander with the Blue Jays. He made his major league debut with Toronto in 2022 after spending several years in the Brewers’ farm system. Milwaukee drafted him in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft and traded him to Toronto in 2021 as part of the Rowdy Tellez-Trevor Richards deal.
Francis, named after Bobby Bowden, was announced as a member of the Blue Jays’ 2024 pitching staff earlier this season, and he has already played in more games this year and thrown nearly twice as many innings as he did in his first two seasons with Toronto combined.
Bowden Francis Statistics
So far in 2024, Francis has the second-lowest ERA of Toronto’s starters, appearing in 22 games and starting eight. Saturday’s eight-inning performance cemented the 28-year-old as a valuable member of the Blue Jays’ rotation.
| General medicine | GS | Record (WL) | EPOCH | WHIP | IP | K | BB | H | HE |
| 22 | 8 | 7-3 | 4.02 | 1.07 | 71.2 | 70 | 19 | 58 | 32 |
Blue Jays no-hitter history
With nine full innings without a hit, Francis would have achieved the Blue Jays’ second no-hitter ever and the first since 1990. The game against the Cleveland Indians was pitched by Dave Stieb.
Toronto’s Brandon Morrow also came close to throwing a no-hitter in 2010. He missed the feat by just one point against the Tampa Bay Rays before Evan Longoria hit a single through the infield.
MORE: Blue Jays listed as possible choice for former Cy Young in free agency
Highlights of Bowden Francis’ near-no-hitter
Here are some of the best highlights from Francis’ near-no-hitter today against Los Angeles.
Bowden Francis, K’ing the Side in 1. pic.twitter.com/SqRh12eVap
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) 24 August 2024
Bowden Francis, painted 84mph splitter. 🖌️🎨
6. K to 3. pic.twitter.com/UiRjFcI6ay
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) 24 August 2024
Bowden Francis, great splitter at 83 mph. 🤢
7. K pic.twitter.com/to110BDEIS
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) 24 August 2024
9. K to 5 by Bowden Francis.
And 🤫 pic.twitter.com/WWtuEJeaFx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) 24 August 2024
Bowden Francis, 10th K to 6th
And 🤫 pic.twitter.com/FfbmA2jZwk
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) 24 August 2024
That’s TWELVE strikeouts for Bowden Francis! 🥵
📺: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/TCpAEcPPrw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 24 August 2024
