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The art of trusting your stuff: How Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis flirted with history
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Veronica Chung
Aug 25, 2024, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 25, 2024, 09:07 EDT
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Coming into spring training earlier this year, right-hander Bowden Francis had one modest dream every pitcher has: becoming a starter in the Major Leagues.
After staying with the flow and not letting external factors control him for his first full season with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023, it was one small thing Francis could ask for. He deserved a chance to earn a spot in the starting rotation, and this season was going to be the start of something he wanted so badly. 
However, the road to proving himself was difficult for the Florida native. His pitching record and statistics were rocky at best and his earned run average (ERA) hovered between 12.96 and 8.59 for the first five games. While the right-hander’s performance improved down the line, he still had to overcome hurdles each outing. 
When doubt around the young right-hander started to sink in, something inexplicable was happening slowly but surely. Francis’ outing was no longer a frustrating nail-biter but was instead becoming a marvellous sight. As someone who strived to bring a beginner’s mindset with a self-effacing attitude, he made his adjustments quietly in the background while toiling away for countless days. 
It wasn’t until mid-August that everyone noticed Francis’ new and improved approach. His outing against the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago Cubs on the road garnered attention as he pitched seven innings and allowed only one run. His unbelievable performance eventually won him the honour of winning the American League Player of the Week. 
Coming out of these two incredibly strong outings, the right-hander got another opportunity to double down on his progress when he was named the starter against the Angels at Rogers Centre on August 24. Francis had a chip on his shoulders going out on the mound to carry the winning momentum after taking the first two games of the series. 
But as soon as the right-hander stepped onto the mound, the magic kicked in. Each player from Los Angeles failed to make sense of pitches that came out of Francis’s hand. While some were lucky enough to earn their walks, the Florida native found ways to get out of the jam despite the odds stacked against him. 
As each inning went by and Francis retired each Angel convincingly, the crowd’s cheer became louder and louder. The right-hander collected eight strikeouts when he finished pitching in the top of the fourth inning and reached double-digit strikeouts by the top of the sixth. By the Francis reached the seventh inning, he struck out 12 batters without allowing any hits other than two walks. He was ready to write a history for the Blue Jays but, more importantly, for himself. 
The young starter threw his first-ever 100th pitch when he came out for the eighth inning and successfully managed to prevent the Angels from generating any productive hits. Fans at Rogers Centre couldn’t help but give Francis a standing ovation as he wrapped up the top of the eighth because they knew what he was doing was indescribably special. Even ESPN’s MLB reporter Jeff Passan urged the Blue Jays to let the right-hander finish what he started. 
The cheer never died down as Francis took the mound at the top of the ninth inning. His bid for a no-hitter was still on and he was only three outs away from winning that recognition. Fooling the hitters a third time through the order was going to be an uphill battle, and sure enough, the Angels’ left fielder Taylor Ward proved the point by launching a solo home run toward the centre field. 
And with that, Francis’ no-hit game was over and so was his time on the mound. But that didn’t stop the crowd from giving him a heartfelt standing ovation as he walked towards the dugout. His Blue Jays teammates participated in the ovation to show their support and respect for his accomplishment. That’s how Francis became the 12th Blue Jay to carry a no-hit bid into the ninth inning on one sunny summer day in Toronto in the open air. 
During his post-game interview with Sportsnet reporter Arden Zwelling after Toronto defeated Los Angeles with the score of 3-1, Francis said believing in his “shit” and letting it eat was key to flirting with the impossible. Trusting the process has been the name of the game for him. By trusting his stuff, the right-hander recorded a .82 ERA, a .36 walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP), a .070 batting average (BA) and raked in 27 strikeouts in his last three starts. The truth of the matter is that Francis’ stuff was always there from the beginning. Everyone, including himself, knew he was capable of achieving so much more. It was a matter of how he dealt with trials and tribulations along the way. 
For a selfless player like Francis, his dreams mattered but becoming a dependable guy his team could count on mattered even more. He had his eyes set on becoming the staple of Toronto’s starting rotation, yet he never brought the spotlight toward him each time he went out on the mound. Funny enough, he unknowingly put his name on the mantle with the Blue Jays’ greats with his no-hit bid and people began to turn their eyes toward him as he challenged his limits. 
When the season started in late March, hardly anyone knew who Bowden Francis was. Though his beginnings were humble, it was clear that he was destined for greatness. No longer will he have to explain who he is anymore. His last name and number 44 on the back of his jersey are now more than enough to understand who he truly is. 

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