Graduated from North Delta High School in British Columbia, Canada...majored in physics and played baseball at the University of British Columbia, where he set school records in apps (44), starts (42), wins (25), ERA (2.36), complete games (13), shutouts (7) and opponents' BA (.203)...had 298 strikeouts and just 52 walks 251.1 innings...was an NAIA All-American as a junior in 2001 and UBC's Male Athlete of the Year in 2002.
2013
Spent most of the season with the Rockies but also made 11 apps and 6 starts at Class AAA Colorado Springs...in May and June spent time on the disabled list with a strained groin...started the Rockies' home opener...made 11 of his last 12 apps in relief...entered the 2013 season with 2 professional relief apps.
2012
Francis signed a Major League contract prior to his start 6/9 vs. LAA and made 24 starts for the Rockies...despite joining the Rockies mid-season, Francis led the Rockies in starts (24) and innings pitched (113.0) After joining the Rockies 6/9, Francis went on to post a 6-7 record with a 5.58 ERA (113.0 ip, 70 er)...16 of his 24 starts
were at least 5.0 innings, with 13 of those allowing three runs or less...prior to joining the Rockies, Francis was signed
to a Minor League contract by Cincinnati 1/26/12 and was an invitee to Major League Spring Training. With his win 8/13 vs. MIL, Francis moved into sole possession of second place on the Rockies all-time wins list, passing Jason Jennings...Francis is now second to only Aaron Cook, who collected 72 wins in 10 seasons from 2002-11. Francis made his 200th career appearance in his start 9/7 at PHI...in that start he allowed six hits over 5.2 shutout
innings...with his start after that, 9/12 vs. SF, he made his 200th career start...Francis has made 173 appearances, 172
starts, in his Rockies career (had 31 starts/appearances in 2011 with Kansas City). Francis finished the 2012 season with a 6.1 strikeout per 9.0 inning rate, the highest K/9.0 IP rate since 2007 (6.9 K/9.0). Has a career record of 33-26 with a 4.82 ERA (481.2 ip, 258 er), 322 strikeouts, 133 walks and an opponent batting average of .291 in 84 career starts and appearances at Coors Field...his 84 starts are the second-most all-time at Coors
Field behind Aaron Cook's 104 starts. Francis tossed just 3.1 innings and allowed 8 runs in on 10 hits to take a loss in his first start on 6/9...however, following that start, Francis pitched at least 5.0 innings in nine-straight starts, with the Rockies going 8-1 in those nine starts
(6/15-7/25)...following his first start, Francis owned a 5.09 ERA and the Rockies went 13-10 in the remainder of his starts. Francis went 3-3 with a 4.35 ERA (60.0 ip, 29 er) in his 12 road starts.
2011
Led the Royals with 16 quality starts...his 31 starts and 183.0 innings were his highest totals
since 2007...issued just 39 walks, fourth-fewest among all Major League pitchers in 2011 and fourth-fewest
ever by a Royals pitcher with at least 180ip.
2010
After missing over a full season following left shoulder surgery (February 25, 2009), Jeff returned to the Majors in a
start on May 16 vs. Washington (ND, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R)...began season on 15-day D.L. with left shoulder tendinitis.
...Posted a 2-0 record with a 2.29 ERA (19.2 IP, 5 ER) in 3 Interleague starts vs. A.L. opponents.
...Was 1-0, allowing just 1 earned runs over 13.1 innings through his first 2 starts.
...Missed over a month in late August and early September with left shoulder soreness.
2009
Did not pitch in 2009 after undergoing right shoulder surgery prior to Spring Training...threw in
some simulated games and during Rockies' fall instructional league in September, towards the end of the
season...has not pitched in the Majors since Sept. 12, 2008 vs. Los Angeles-NL.
2008
Followed up his career-best 17-win season (17-9 in 2007) with a 4-10 record in 2008...made
just 24 starts due to left shoulder inflammation that landed him on the DL from 6/29-8/6, a span of 34
games...made his final start of the season on 9/12 before being shut down for the remainder of the year
with soreness in his left shoulder...the 24 starts were the fewest of his career, as were his 4 victories...his
4 victories were the fewest in the NL, tied with Seattle's Carlos Silva for the fewest in the Majors for any
starter with at least 24 starts...the 4 wins in 24 starts is the fewest ever for a Rockies starter with at least
24 starts...was his first full season in the Majors to not earn double-digit victories...also marked his first professional
season in which he posted a losing record (7 pro seasons)...posted ERA's of 1.71 in wins, 8.13
in losses and 3.63 in 10 no-decisions...earned his 50th career win 6/18 vs. CLE in Rockies' 4-2 win and is
one of just four Rockies all-time with 50 wins, joining Jason Jennings (58-56), Pedro Astacio (53-48) and
Aaron Cook (52-44)...recorded his 500th strikeout (Ryan Braun) 6/8 vs. MIL, becoming the 3rd Rox pitcher
in franchise history with 500 or more K's (also Astacio, 749 and Jennings, 622)...won just 2 games at
Coors Field but still ranks 2nd all-time with 28 wins at the venue...Francis received just 3.51 average runs
of support in 2008, the lowest average on the team and 3rd-lowest average runs of support in the NL...his
run support average was nearly 1.5 runs lower than the next lowest Rox starter (Aaron Cook-4.94)...his
3.51 RSA is the lowest ever for any Rockies starter with at least 24 starts in a single season...the Rockies
offense scored just 56 runs for Francis in his 24 starts in '08...opponents hit .286 (164-for-574) against the
southpaw, with lefties hitting .248 (28-for-113) and righties at .295 (136-for-461)...allowed 21 home runs in
2008, the most of any Rockies starter...allowed an average of 1.32 home runs per 9 innings, the 12th-highest
HR/9 ip in the NL...despite his high HR/9 ip ratio, Francis allowed just one home run in his final 5 starts
of the season...allowed 22 runs in the first inning, easily his most during any inning (next highest total: 13
runs in 6th inn.)...the first batter of the game hit .522 (12-for-23) off Francis and the first batter of an inning
hit .340 (48-for-141)...he also allowed a .327 avg. (71-for-217) with no outs...was far more productive in his
7 starts after the All-Star break...the pre/post All-Star splits also coincide with his time before going on the DL and after returning from the DL; in his 17 starts before the break (also before going on the DL) he went
3-7 with a 5.67 ERA (100.0 ip, 63 er), 40 walks, 67 strikeouts and 17 home runs allowed...in 7 starts after
the break (also after returning from the DL) he went 1-3 with a 3.50 ERA (43.2 ip, 17 er), 9 walks, 27 strikeouts
and 4 home runs allowed...his 3.45 ERA (31.1 ip, 12 er) during 5 starts in August was the 2nd-lowest
among Rockies starters (De La Rosa-2.22 ERA)...Francis lowered his season ERA in each of his final 6
starts of the season from 5.81 after his start on 8/7 vs. WAS to season-ending ERA of 5.01...pitched better
against the NL West than any other division; posted 4.36 ERA (74.1 ip, 36 er) in 12 starts against NL
West rivals...despite going 2-1 in 5 Interleague starts, he posted a 5.65 ERA (28.2 ip, 18 er) with 10 walks
and 14 strikeouts...finished 3rd on the Rockies staff with 12 quality starts; exactly half of his starts were
quality outings...the Rockies bullpen blew saves in 5 games that Francis started, the most blown saves
behind any Rockies starter...began the season with 2 straight losses, both to Arizona, and the Rockies lost
5 of his first 6 starts of the season...did not earn his first win until 5/18 vs. MIN, which was his 9th start of
the season; allowed 2 runs in 6.1 innings in that start...the Rockies would lose each of his next 2 starts,
and the team would begin the season 3-8 in his first 11 starts...notched his first win against an NL team 6/3
at LAD in what was his 11th start of the season against an NL club; allowed no runs on 4 hits in 7.0 innings
to earn the victory...his win on 6/3 started a June for him in which he went 2-2 record with a 4.84 ERA (35.1
ip, 19 er), which was his most productive month of the three prior to the All-Star break (also before going
on DL)...was placed on the DL with left shoulder inflammation July 3, retroactive to June 29th...in his final
start before going on the DL he took the loss 6/28 at DET, allowing 4 earned runs in 6.0 innings...missed
34 games before returning from the DL on 8/6...made 3 starts on a rehab assignment from 7/21-31 for
Double-A Tulsa; went 1-0 with a 0.63 ERA (14.1 ip, 1 er) with 2 walks and 19 strikeouts in the 3 rehab
games...returned for a start 8/7 in Game 2 of a doubleheader vs. WAS; allowed 5 runs in 5.1 innings in that
start, the most runs he allowed in any start after returning from the DL...made 6 consecutive quality starts
beginning 8/13 vs. ARI, a game the Rockies won, but Francis received a no decision...Rockies would win
each of his next 2 starts as well, although Francis earned only one win...his only victory of the second half
came 8/25 at SF in the Rockies 4-2 victory; he tossed 7.0 innings, allowing 2 runs...went 0-2 over his final
3 starts, all quality outings, posting a 2.79 ERA (19.1 ip, 6 er) in those games; Rox offense scored just 2
runs total while Francis pitched in the 3 games, including scoring no runs in 2 of the games...he received
no runs of support in 5 of his 24 starts in '08, and 2 runs or less of support in 13 of 24 starts overall.
2007
The true ace of the Rockies' staff for much of the season,
Francis posted one of the finest individual seasons by any pitcher in
Colorado franchise history...went 17-9 with a 4.22 ERA (215.1 ip, 4
er) in 34 games/starts for the Rockies...his 17 wins matches the
franchise record, most ever by a Rox lefty, while his 215.1 innings is
third-most in a single season in franchise history...ranked among NL
league leaders in wins (4th), innings (6th), and starts (T-2nd)...established
career highs in wins, innings, strikeouts, and starts...won eight
consecutive decisions from June 14-Aug. 8, a franchise record for a
starter...it also matched the second-longest win streak in the NL this
season...made career-high 19 quality starts...went 8-0 with a 2.48
ERA (61.2 ip, 17 er) in nine day game starts this season...was the third lowest
day ERA in the NL...was the most day wins by any NL pitcher
that was not a member of the Cubs, and was second-most day
wins by a Rockies pitcher in any season...Kevin Ritz had club-record
10 day wins in 1996, but he made twice as many day starts as
Francis that year (18)...opponents batted .278, .289 (187-647) by
right-handers and .242 (47-194) by lefties...Rockies were 22-12 in
his 34 starts...threw at least 5.0 innings in 32 of 34 starts...other
innings reached: 6.0 ip, 24 times; 7.0 ip, 15 times; 8.0 ip, four
times...Francis also tossed his second career complete game and
shutout on Aug. 29 at San Francisco, a six-hitter...went 8-5, 4.20
(115.2 ip, 54 er) in 18 games/starts at Coors Field and 9-4, 4.24 (99.2
ip, 47 er) in 16 games/starts on the road...over first six starts through
May, went 1-4 with a 6.19 ERA (36.1 ip, 25 er)...actually began the
year with 2 quality starts...took a no decision in club's second game of
the year, April 3 vs. Arizona, exiting with game tied 2-2 in Rox' eventual 4-3 walk-off win in 11 innings...Rox
scored twice in the 11th to win, both runs scoring following near-outs...beat Jason Schmidt in Dodgers'
home opener on April 9 at LA (6.2 ip, 5 h, 2 r-er)...allowed homer to Schmidt in that outing...after that first
win, dropped appeal of an MLB five-game suspension stemming from a Spring Training incident...served the
suspension from April 10-15...Francis was suspended for throwing behind Padres' Kevin Kouzmanoff on
March 13 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, this despite Doug Brocail having hit both Troy Tulowitzki and Matt
Holliday with up and in pitches in a span of four days in March...no Padres were penalized...Francis pitched
a day later than his scheduled turn and took loss on April 16 vs. San Francisco...that game began a stretch
of four straight losing starts, longest losing streak of his career...he had previously not dropped even four straight
decisions at any point in his career...had a 7.99 ERA (23.2 ip, 21 er) with 10 walks and 10 strikeouts in
those four starts fromApril 16-May 2, as opponents batted .396 (40-for-101) in that span...allowed career-high
13 hits on April 21 vs. San Diego...beginning with start on May 7 at St. Louis, would go 16-5 with a 3.82
ERA (179.0 ip, 76 er) over his final 28 starts...ended losing streak with win on May 12 vs. San Francisco
(8.0 ip, 4 h, 2 r-er), a 6-2 Rockies victory...retired each of final 10 batters faced, and retired 14 of last 15
faced following a Ray Durham homer in the fourth inning...also committed first career balk...won on May 23
at Arizona, tossing 7.0 shutout innings to secure a series win over D-Backs in Rockies' 2-0 victory...had a
2.23 ERA (44.1 ip, 11 er) for the month of May, a franchise record for May and the seventh-lowest figure ever
by a Rockie in any month (minimum 25.0 ip)...the 2.23 ERA ranked as 11th-lowest in the NL for May...won
on June 14 at Boston, tossing 5.0 shutout innings to beat Josh Beckett for his first loss all season...was his
first career game both against Red Sox and at Fenway...faced Yankees and Andy Pettitte in next start, also
earning win in that game (7.0 ip, 5 h, 1 r-er)...posted nine strikeouts, which was a career high at that
point...Matt Holliday's two-run homer off Pettitte in the sixth broke a scoreless tie, as Rox went on to win 6-1
ahead of eventual sweep of Yankees...tossed 7.0 shutout innings in win on June 30 at Houston, ending
club's season-high eight-game losing streak...that game was a matchup with another former Rockies first
round pick, Astros' Jason Jennings...earned win despite allowing two home runs to Ryan Braun on July 13 at
Milwaukee in Rockies' second 'half' opener...posted 10th win on July 18 at Pittsburgh as Rox completed a three-game sweep in the Steel City...posted seventh straight win on Aug. 3 at Atlanta, a 9-2 Rockies victory in
matchup with John Smoltz...earned eighth consecutive win on Aug. 8 vs. Milwaukee in Rockies' 19-4
rout...allowed eight runs in 3.1 innings in a pair of starts late in the year, Aug. 14 at San Diego and Sept. 13 at
Philadelphia...both starts matched shortest outing of his career and most earned runs allowed in a
start...the Aug. 14 defeat was his first loss in over two months, since June 8 at Baltimore...took a no decision
on Aug. 24 vs. Washington when Rox rallied for a five-run ninth, matching a club record by overcoming a
four-run deficit in the ninth inning or later...on Aug. 29 at San Francisco, tossed his second career complete game
and shutout in the Rockies' 8-0 win (9.0 ip, 6 h, 0 r, 1 bb, 3 so)...faced five over the minimum as the win kept
the Rox from being swept...each of his six hits allowed were singles...the shutout came in his 100th career
start, as he is just the sixth pitcher with 100 starts for Colorado (also Jennings, Wright, Astacio, Cook, and
Thomson...earned 1fifth win on Labor Day, Sept. 3 vs. San Francisco to establish new career high for wins
in a season...suffered loss on Sept. 8 vs. San Diego despite allowing only two runs in 8.0 innings in a 3-1
defeat...earned sixth win on Sept. 18 vs. Los Angeles (Game 1), passing Shawn Estes' 2004 total for most
wins in a season by a Rockies left-hander...posted career-high 10 strikeouts in that win, most by a Rockies
pitcher since Jason Jennings recorded 10 K's on Aug. 28, 2003...Rox had gone 661 games without a 10-
K game between the Jennings contests and Francis' effort...win on Sept. 23 at San Diego wrapped up a
series sweep for the Rockies, club's eighth consecutive victory...took loss in final start of season on Sept.
28 vs. Arizona at Coors Field, taking loss against Brandon Webb that ended Rockies' 11-game win streak.
2006
In just his second full season in the Major Leagues, Francis led the Rockies in wins for a second consecutive season...went 13-11 with a 4.16 ERA (199.0 ip, 92 er) in 32 games/starts for Colorado...opposing batters hit just .250, 10th-lowest mark in the NL...established a career high in innings despite making one less start than the previous year...his 4.16 ERA is the fourth-lowest single season figure in franchise history, second-lowest ever by a lefty behind only Joe Kennedy's club-record 3.66 mark in 2004...the 4.16 ERA was also the fifth-lowest mark among N.L. lefties...it represented a drop of over a run and a half from his 2005 ERA of 5.68...he is just the fifth pitcher to record multiple 10-win seasons for Colorado, joining Brian Bohanon as the only lefties on that list...tied for team lead with 32 starts and ranked third on staff in innings, strikeouts (117), and quality starts (15)...led team with five pickoffs...opponents had a .322 on-base percentage, lowest among Rox starters, while posting best strikeout to walk ratio on staff at 1.70...opponents had a .268 OBP when leading off an inning, sixth-lowest among N.L. starters...took a no-hitter into the fifth inning on three occasions, including twice allowing hits to the leadoff batter in the sixth inning...innings pitched without allowing a hit in those outings: Aug. 19 at NYM (4.2 ip), May 20 vs. Tor (5.0 ip), and July 24 vs. StL (5.0 ip)...had 42 total chances without an error in 2006, T4th-most among all Major League pitchers without a miscue...his scoreless innings streak of 14.0 innings from May 3-8 was second-longest by a Rox starter all year...team went 20-12 in his 32 starts, easily best team record among club's starters...pitched at least 6.0 innings in 20 different starts, tossing at least 7.0 frames on 10 occasions...earned the Rockies' only two wins vs. St. Louis all year...ended up facing Dodgers just once all season, but had wins against three of the four N.L. playoff teams in '06...pitched for Canada in World Baseball Classic prior to the season, losing only start on March 9 vs. Mexico in a game at Chase Field in Phoenix...had a 3.07 ERA (55.2 ip, 19 er) over first nine starts through May 20, going 3-3 in that span...over next six starts from May 26-June 23, went 2-4 with a 6.43 ERA (35.0 ip, 25 er) to raise season mark to 4.37...beginning June 28, compiled a 2.09 ERA (69.0 ip, 16 er) over next 10 starts through Aug. 19 to drop season figure to 3.38...over final seven starts beginning Aug. 25, had a 7.32 ERA (39.1 ip, 32 er) to finish at 4.16...won four of five decisions in that span, however...won May 8 at St. Louis, besting Jason Marquis by allowing one run in 7.2 innings...at the time, the win brought the Rox season-best seven games above .500...took loss on May 14 at Houston in Rox' 3-0 defeat, as Andy Pettitte tossed a complete game shutout...won May 20 vs. Toronto, becoming just the 16th native of Canada to start against the Blue Jays, a team he followed in his youth...on July 24 vs. St. Louis, tossed his only career complete game in a 2-hit shutout (9.0 ip, 2 h, 0 r, 0 bb, 8 so)...he was perfect through 5.0 innings before a leadoff bloop single by Yadier Molina in the sixth inning...it was the fewest hits ever allowed in a nine-inning complete game by a left-handed pitcher at Coors Field, either for Colorado or the opposition...matched career high with eight K's...Francis threw a career-high 129 pitches in the game...beat Giants on Aug. 4 at San Francisco to record his first career win in the City by the Bay, allowing two runs in 8.0 innings...beginning with his 10th win Aug. 25 vs. San Diego, ended season with a stretch of four wins in his final five decisions...last win Sept. 23 vs. Atlanta was his 30th career victory, giving him most ever by a Rox lefty, and 20th career win at Coors Field, third-most all-time...took no decision in final start Sept. 30 at Chicago-NL despite leaving with an 8-3 lead and in position for a 14th victory...Cubs tied that game with two outs in the ninth, but Rox went on to win 11-9 in 14 innings.
2005
After solidifying his status as a Major League pitcher, Francis enters camp vying for a spot in the top of the Colorado rotation...he went 14-12 with a 5.68 ERA (183.2 ip, 116 er) in 33 games/starts for Colorado...led the staff in wins, starts, innings, quality starts (14) and strikeouts (128)...had the most starts ever by a Rockies rookie...led all Major League rookies with 14 wins, most by any rookie over the last two seasons...the 14 wins as a rookie is T4th-highest total in the National League in the last 21 seasons (beginning 1985), as Francis is one of just eight NL rookies with 14 or more wins in that span...in 2005, led National League rookie pitchers in starts, innings, and strikeouts, along with leading rookies in circuit with a .538 winning percentage...also ranked among Major League rookies in starts (T2nd), strikeouts (3rd), innings (4th), and winning percentage (5th)...joined Armando Reynoso (1993) and Jason Jennings (2002) as only rookies in franchise history to lead the team in wins...the 14 wins matched the fourth-highest single season total in Rockies history also matching the second-most ever by a Colorado lefty...only Shawn Estes, who won 15 games in 2004, has more wins in a season among Rockies left-handers...marked the second-most wins ever by a Colorado rookie, trailing only Jason Jennings' 16 wins in 2002...had eight home wins, matching the third-most ever by a Rockie...Francis' 33 starts matched the seventh-highest total in club history, while his 128 K's ranks eighth on Rockies single season list...had most wins of any pitcher among teams with 95 or more losses in 2005, one of just four pitchers on those staffs to win 10 or more games...last rookie to win at least 14 games for a 95-loss team was Baltimore's Rodrigo Lopez, who had 15 wins for a 2002 Orioles club that finished 67-95...led the National League with an average of 6.37 runs of support per nine innings, the 5th-highest figure in the majors...his five pickoffs ranked T3rd-most in the National League and T4th-most in the Majors...pitched at least 5.0 innings in 27 of 33 starts, including 16 of first 18 outings...tossed 6.0 or more innings 17 times and went 7.0+ frames on three occasions...went 8-4 with a 4.88 ERA (86.2 ip, 47 er) in 15 home starts and 6-8, 6.40 (97.0 ip, 69 er) in 18 road outings...his 4.88 ERA at Coors Field was the sixth-lowest single season home figure in Rockies history (minimum 81.0 innings)...won all four starts against the NL East, posting a 2.59 ERA (24.1 ip, 7 er) in those outings...earned a win against three of the four NL playoff teams, and did not face Houston...went 4-0, 3.45 (28.2 ip, 11 er) in five starts against Arizona as D-Backs were lone team with multiple victories against for the year...allowed 29 runs in the first inning of his starts, his highest total for any inning all year...first start came on April 8 at San Francisco in the team's third game of the year...took a no decision in Rockies' 10-8 loss that day...recorded first Major League hit in his first at-bat of the season on April 8 at San Francisco, a single to left off Noah Lowry in the third inning...ended April with a 4.37 ERA (22.2 ip, 11 er)...tossed career-high 7.2 innings on April 19 vs. Arizona...had no decisions in three of his first four starts of the year, but would take win or loss in 25 of his last 29 outings...took loss in next start on May 2 at San Diego, snapping a four-game win streak dating back to 2004...won three consecutive starts from May 8-19, allowing three or fewer runs in each outing...win on May 13 vs. Arizona was first career win in a night game, as each of his first five career wins came in daytime...did not permit a home run over 34.2 consecutive innings (145 batters faced) from April 13 to May 13...took loss on June 8 vs. Chicago-AL, the first of Francis' career at Coors Field...prior to that loss, Francis had won first six decisions at Coors, matching Darren Oliver (1999-2003) as only pitchers to accomplish that feat...matched career high with eight K's in quality start loss on June 19 at Baltimore, allowing three runs in 6.0 innings...loss to the O's was the first of his career in a day game...earned wins in three straight starts from June 25-July 5, all three quality starts, posting a 1.33 ERA (20.1 ip, 3 er) in that span...second win in that span came on June 30 at St. Louis, allowing three hits in 6.0 shutout innings...combined with three Rox relievers to shut out the Cardinals 7-0 that night, the team's lone road blanking of the year...St. Louis was shut out just three times at home all year as other two blankings in Busch Stadium came in games started by Boston's David Wells and New York-AL's Randy Johnson...final start of three-win stretch came on July 5 vs. Los Angeles, allowing one run in 7.1 innings, the second-longest outing of his career...reeled off another three-game win streak from July 26-Aug. 6, the third and final three-game win streak of the season, all matching his career high...tossed 6.0 shutout innings on July 31 vs. Philadelphia, matching career high with eight K's...from Aug. 6-Sept. 12, went 2-5 with an 8.69 ERA (39.1 ip, 38 er) over span of eight starts, raising season figure from 5.16 to 5.99...tossed 3.1 frames in loss on Aug. 11 vs. Pittsburgh, shortest appearance of his career...had one quality start in that stretch...went 2-0, 2.65 (17.0 ip, 5 er) over final three starts, dropping final ERA from 5.99 to 5.68...both wins in that stretch came on the road, Sept. 18 at Arizona, and Sept. 28 at Atlanta in what was his final start of the year...each of the wins came in series finales, allowing Colorado to take each series...went 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA (12.0 ip, 3 er) in three spring games/starts, also making a pair of Minor League starts.
2004
Francis was named Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and USA Today,
the first player in Rockies organizational history to win either of those awards...he became only the fourth
different player to be honored by both publications in the same season, joining Andruw Jones (1995-96),
Rick Ankiel (1999) and Josh Beckett (2001)...dominant minor league campaign saw him go 16-3 with a
2.21 ERA and .194 average against in 24 combined starts between Tulsa (AA) and Colorado Springs
(AAA)...struckout 196 batters in 154.2 innings (11.4 per nine innings) and fanned more batters than hits
(108) and walks (29) combined...in fact, he struckout almost seven hitters for every one he walked (6.8 K
/ BB ratio)...leading all of minor league baseball in both wins and strikeouts at the time, Francis earned his
first major league call-up in late August and went on to start seven games for the Rockies, posting a 3-2
record with a 5.15 ERA in 36.2 innings...after going 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA in his first two starts, Francis
ended the year 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA in his last five outings...won each of his two starts at Coors Field, 2-0
while allowing just 3 earned runs in 11.0 innings (2.45 ERA)...had his Triple A contract purchased on Aug.
25 and made his major league debut that night in Atlanta, losing an 8-1 decision to the Braves...gave up 6
runs over 5.0 innings, all on 3 home runs...did strikeout 8 while walking only 1...second ML start also a
loss, a 9-5 setback at San Francisco on Aug. 31...yielded 8 runs over 4.1 innings, including 2 more long
balls...recorded his first major league win Sept. 5 at PETCO Park, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings in a 5-2
victory over the Padres...made his Coors Field debut on Sept. 11, earning a 13-2 win over San
Diego...allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings, both on Khalil Greene solo home runs...won his third consecutive
decision on Sept. 23 (1) vs. Arizona...allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings and did not walk a single batter while
matching his career best with 8 strikeouts...final start maybe his best as he allowed just 3 hits and 1
unearned run over 6.0 innings in a no decision at Los Angeles on Sept. 29...left in a 1-1 tie and the Rockies
wound up winning 4-1...began the season at Tulsa where he was named Texas League Pitcher of the
Year...in 17 starts for the Drillers, Jeff was 13-1 with a 1.98 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 113.2 innings...opponents
batted just .181...he captured the league ERA title and was still second in wins and third in strikeouts
despite spending just over a half season there...Baseball America called him the league's top pitching
prospect...was Tulsa's Opening Day starter and went on to go 10-0 with a 1.87 ERA in his first 13
starts...he became the first pitcher in Drillers history to begin a season with 10 consecutive wins...he actually
owned a 16-game winning streak dating back to his previous season before finally tasting defeat start
No. 14 on June 17 vs. Midland...made his final start with Tulsa on July 7 and allowed 1 hit over 7.0 scoreless
innings with 14 K's in a victory over Arkansas...started the All-Star Futures Game for the World Team on July 11 in Houston, retiring the side in order with 2 strikeouts...promoted to Colorado Springs on July
13, Francis went 3-2 with a 2.85 ERA in seven starts for the Sky Sox...walked just 7 while striking out 49
in 41.0 innings...in his Triple A debut, July 17 at New Orleans, Jeff took a no hitter into the fifth inning and
gave up 1 hit over 7.0 shutout frames with 1 walk and 12 K's to earn the victory...including that start, he
compiled a 29.2 scoreless innings streak between the two levels from June 26-July 22...was roughed up
for 7 runs (6 earned) in 3.0 innings during his last start with the Sky Sox on Aug. 19...without that effort, his
ERA for his other six starts in the Pacific Coast League was 1.66.
2003
Tossed a no-hitter on July 6 vs. Modesto, the first California League pitcher to hurl a no-hitter since Ted Lilly for San Bernardino on May 10, 1989 vs. Palm Springs...faced just three over the minimum, walking three with one hit batsman and nine strikeouts in his 119-pitch performance...from that start on, Jeff went 8-1 with a 1.26 ERA and .167 average against in his final 11 outings (78.1 ip, 44 h, 11 er)...including his 15.0 scoreless innings in the Cal League playoffs, Jeff was 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA and .165 average against in his last 13 starts...named Rockies Pitcher of the Month in July (4-1, 2.09) and August (4-1, 1.34)...earned league Pitcher of the Week honors on two occasions, June 30-July 6 and Aug. 4-10...tied for the league lead with two shutouts...led the organization in strikeouts (153), tied for second most on the circuit...ranked third in the league in innings (160.2) and sixth in ERA (3.47)...went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in the playoffs, including a three-hit CG shutout in Game 4 of the semifinals vs. Stockton...following the season,
Sportsticker rated him as the seventh-best left-handed pitching prospect in the minors.
2002
Did not allow an earned run in his first 16.2 professional innings (10.2 ip at Tri City, 6.0 at Asheville)...had his season cut short when he was struck with a line drive while sitting in the dugout on Aug. 9...suffered a concussion and did not pitch again for Asheville but did participate in the Instructional League.
