Pick A Fab50 Player Here Top of the Article 1. B.J. Upton 2. Jason Kubel 3. Jeff Francis 4. David Wright 5. Dallas McPherson 6. Travis Blackley 7. Ryan Church 8. Brad Thompson 9. Clint Barmes 10. Delmon Young/Rickie Weeks 11.Tim Stauffer 12. Joey Gathright 13. Grady Sizemore 14. Ian Kinsler 15. Jeff Salazar 16. Prince Fielder 17. Mark Teahen 18. J.D. Closser 19. Matt Cain 20. Josh Kroeger 21. Michael Aubrey 22. Jeff Baker 23. Richard Lewis 24. Ervin Santana 25. Ryan Howard 26. Ryan Shealy 27. Jason Botts 28. Conor Jackson 29. Carlos Quentin 30. Zach Duke 31. Felix Hernandez 32. Ubaldo Jimenez 33. Yusmeiro Petit 34. Jose Capellan 35. Chris Roberson 36. Mike Hinckley 37. Willy Taveras 38. Lastings Milledge 39. Mike Megrew 40. Bronson Sardinha 41. Daric Barton 42. Matt Chico 43. Howie Kendrick 44. Chuck Tiffany 45. Nate Schierholtz 46. Edwin Encarnacion 47. Joel Guzman 48. Melky Cabrera 49. Ian Stewart 50. Gavin Floyd

Name: Jeff Francis

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 200 lbs.

Position: Pitcher

Bats/Throws: L/L

DOB: 08/21/1984

Organization Colorado Rockies

Acquired: First round (9th overall), 2002 Draft

Current Team: Tulsa Drillers -AA Texas League

The start of the 2004 season has been practically perfect for Colorado Rockies pitching prospect Jeff Francis.

As of 6/15, the lefty’s record this season is unblemished at 10-0 and he is breezing through his double-A jaunt with the Tulsa Drillers.

Francis has struckout 112 batters [35 in his last 3 games alone], while yielding only 16 walks and posting a league leading 1.87 ERA.

“He’s obviously dominating the Texas League,” said Rockies Director of Player Personnel, Bill Geivett. “He’s given up only 55 hits in nearly 87 innings pitched.”

 

Domination is nothing new for Jeff Francis. In fact, this year’s success has actually been a continuation from last season.

He finished 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA in his last 13 starts with the Visalia Oaks in ‘03. Francis also pitched 15 shut out innings in two California League playoff victories. This gives him an amazing 22-1 record in his last 28 games started.

Jeff began putting up huge numbers at the University of British Columbia, where he caught the eye of scouts after posting a 12-3 record with a slim 0.92 ERA in nearly 100 innings pitched as a sophomore.

The Rockies selected him in the first round (9th overall) of the 2002 draft, making him the second-highest Canadian ever picked.

“This guy has got some weapons to use,” says Geivett. “He’s got a plus curveball that’s kind of in between a curveball and a slider.

Along with great mechanics, Francis throws between 88-92 MPH and has some decent velocity that should improve with time.

“His change up is the only thing that needs to keep coming, but it’s already a strong pitch. Jeff has impressive command and he’s already pretty complete,”

Geivett believes that Francis is ready to continue his impressive run after he gets an anticipated promotion to AAA Colorado Springs.

“I don’t foresee him struggling at all,” says Geivett.

With Coors Field only about an hours drive away, Eric Gagne may have a fellow Canuck flamethrower joining him in National League West before year’s end. He joins the FAB50 as our top pitching prospect and our third pick overall.

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