Jeff Francis

On September 23,, 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.

Francis finished the season with an ERA of 4.16, more than a run lower from the previous year.

He also won 13 games for the Rockies.

Jeffrey William Francis (born January 8, 1981) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays.

He is an inductee of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

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 British Columbia, Francis went on to pursue a major in physics at the University of British Columbia while playing for the UBC Thunderbirds.

He became the fourth player to be honoured 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.

Francis made his major league debut on August 25,, 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.

Francis was selected in the 1st round (9th 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.

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 earned his first career victory on September 5, 2004, against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, tossing 5 scoreless innings in a 5–2 victory for the Rockies.

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

In 2005, Francis was a mainstay in the rotation, pitching in 33 starts for the Rockies.

Although he finished with a 14–12 record, his ERA was 5.68 and his WHIP was at 1.62 while allowing 228 hits in 183 innings.

On November 22, 2006, Francis signed a four-year deal worth $13.25 million, carrying an option for a fifth year at $9 million.

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.

Francis had a career year while leading the Rockies into the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

He finished the season with a career-best 17 wins, 165 strikeouts and 215 1⁄3 innings.

On October 3,, 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 second 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, as well as the series to the Boston Red Sox.

Like many of his Rockies teammates, Francis struggled to replicate his 2007 success during the 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.

Francis began the 2010 season on the disabled list.

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

On January 14, 2011, Francis agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals for $2 million plus performance bonuses.