Who is Bowden Francis? Blue Jays pitcher nearly throws second no-hitter in franchise history vs. Mets

Sarah Effress

•
Who is Bowden Francis? Blue Jays pitcher nearly throws second no-hitter in franchise history vs. Mets image

For the second time in four starts, Jays pitcher Bowden Francis was three outs away from recording the second no-hitter in team history.

Francis took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning on Wednesday, only to have another deja vu moment as Mets infielder Francisco Lindor launched an 0-2 fastball to right field, knotting the game at 1-1. 

It was the same fate he faced just three weeks prior, when he gave up a solo home run to Angel Taylor Ward in the top of the ninth inning in a 3-1 win over the Angeles. Once again, he was greeting with a standing ovation from the crowd at Rogers Centre as Chad Green took over on the bump. 

The 22-year-old has been a breakout star this season for the Blue Jays. While the team's 2024 has been disappointing, Bowden has put everything together in his third season in the majors. He owns the best ERA among Blue Jays starters at 3.52, along with an 8-4 record and a 0.93 WHIP. 

Here's everything to know about Francis, who almost has thrown two memorable no-nos for the Canadian side.

MORE: Blue Jays could make significant organizational changes, per insider

Who is Bowden Francis?

Francis is a 28-year-old righty for the Blue Jays. He made his major league debut in 2022 with Toronto after spending several years in the Brewers farm system. Milwaukee took him in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft and traded him to Toronto in 2021 as part of the Rowdy Tellez-Trevor Richards deal.

Named for Bobby Bowden, Francis was announced as a member of the Blue Jays 2024 pitching staff at the beginning of the season. This year, he has already played in more games and thrown nearly twice as many innings as in his first two seasons with Toronto combined.

Bowden Francis stats

So far in 2024, Francis has the second-lowest ERA of Toronto's starters, appearing in 22 games and starting eight. Saturday's eight-inning outing did nothing but cement the 28-year-old as a valuable member of the Blue Jays' rotation.

GPGSRecord (W-L)ERAWHIPIPKBBHER
2287-34.021.0771.270195832

Blue Jays no-hitter history

With a full nine no-hit innings today, Francis would have completed the Blue Jays' second no-hitter ever and its first since 1990. That game was pitched by Dave Stieb against the Cleveland Indians.

In 2010, Toronto's Brandon Morrow came quite close to recording a no-hitter, as well. He got within one out of the feat against the Tampa Bay Rays before Evan Longoria knocked a single through the infield. 

MORE: Blue Jays listed as possible fit for former Cy Young in free agency

Bowden Francis near-no-hitter highlights

Here are some of the best highlights from Francis' near-no-hitters against Los Angeles and New York. 

August 24, 2024

Sept. 11, 2024 

Sarah Effress

Sarah Effress Photo

Sarah Effress is an editorial intern for The Sporting News. She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, and loves to talk soccer and women's college sports.