Bowden Francis

Robert Bowden Francis ( ; born April 22, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Blue Jays.

Early life Francis was born in Tallahassee, Florida. He attended Chipola College in Marianna, Florida, and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.

Professional career Milwaukee Brewers Francis made his professional debut with the Arizona League Brewers, pitching to a 8.10 earned run average (ERA) in four games. Francis split the 2018 season between the Class–A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Advanced–A Carolina Mudcats, posting a 7–10 win–loss record, 4.50 ERA, and 106 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched. Francis began the 2021 season with Biloxi before being promoted to the Triple–A Nashville Sounds at the end of May. In 11 games between the two levels, Francis logged a 7–3 record and 3.62 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched. He was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and remained with the team for the rest of the minor league season. In 73 innings for the Bisons, Francis went 6–4 with a 4.19 ERA and 71 strikeouts.

On April 25, 2022, Francis was called up by the Blue Jays. He made only one appearance against the Boston Red Sox, tossing a scoreless inning with one strikeout. On June 18, Francis was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple-A.

He began the 2023 season with Triple-A Buffalo, making four starts and recording a 3.45 ERA with 23 strikeouts in innings pitched. On June 6, 2023, Francis had his contract selected to the major league roster. In 20 relief outings for Toronto, he recorded a 1.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Entering the 2024 season, the Blue Jays announced that Francis would be part of their season–opening rotation. On August 24, 2024, Francis threw 8 no-hit innings against the Los Angeles Angels before Taylor Ward hit a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth to break it up. This was the first time a Blue Jay threw 8 no-hit innings since Brandon Morrow went against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010 and would have been the second no-hitter in Blue Jays history following Dave Stieb in 1990 against the Cleveland Indians. After following this performance with seven innings of one-hit ball against the Boston Red Sox on August 29, Francis was named the American League Pitcher of the Month, becoming the second Jays pitcher to win the award in 2024 after Jose Berrios. On September 11, Francis again threw 8 no-hit innings at home, this time against the New York Mets, only for Francisco Lindor to hit a game-tying leadoff home run, and the Mets to win 6–2. Francis became the second pitcher in Blue Jays history to have multiple no-hit bids of 8 innings, following Stieb, and the first pitcher in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to have multiple no-hit bids of 8 innings within his first 11 career starts. He also became the first pitcher to lose multiple no-hit bids in the 9th inning in a season since Nolan Ryan in 1989.

Francis made 14 starts for Toronto to begin the 2025 season, struggling to a 2-8 record and 6.05 ERA with 54 strikeouts over 64 innings of work. On June 17, 2025, Francis was placed on the injured list due to a right shoulder impingement; he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 28.

On February 10, 2026, it was announced that Francis would require Tommy John surgery, ending his season prematurely.

Personal life Francis was named for Bobby Bowden.

Francis's mother died from breast cancer in 2014.