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All content contained in this web site, are copyright of the league. No part of this material may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of the Pacific International League.
ROYALS SIGN JEFF FRANCIS TO 1-YEAR DEAL
JANUARY 14, 2011 - KANSAS CITY, MO: The Royals and free-agent left-hander Jeff Francis agreed to terms Friday on a one-year deal, 2-million dollar contract pending a physical. Francis pitched for three different Pacific International League teams: Coquitlam Athletics (2000), Everett Merchants (2001) and the Bellingham Bells (2002) during his amateur career.
Francis, was the ninth overall selection of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of British Columbia. Following a short minor league career in which he was named the 2004 Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and USA Today, he made his major league debut on August 25, 2004, against the Atlanta Braves.
He would pick up his first major league win on September 5, 2004, against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory for the Rockies.
Francis helped lead the Rockies to their only World Series appearance in 2007 by winning 17 games and became the first Canadian born pitcher to start a post-season playoff game (October 3, 2007) and the first Canadian to start a World Series game (October 24, 2007).
After missing most of the 2008 and 2009 season with injuries, he went 4-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) for the Rockies in 2010 and became a free agent after the Rockies declined its $7 million option on him
Overall, he is 55-50 with a 4.77 ERA and a 2.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 150 games (149 starts) through his six-year career. Francis also represented Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Francis, was the ninth overall selection of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of British Columbia. Following a short minor league career in which he was named the 2004 Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and USA Today, he made his major league debut on August 25, 2004, against the Atlanta Braves.
He would pick up his first major league win on September 5, 2004, against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory for the Rockies.
Francis helped lead the Rockies to their only World Series appearance in 2007 by winning 17 games and became the first Canadian born pitcher to start a post-season playoff game (October 3, 2007) and the first Canadian to start a World Series game (October 24, 2007).
After missing most of the 2008 and 2009 season with injuries, he went 4-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) for the Rockies in 2010 and became a free agent after the Rockies declined its $7 million option on him
Overall, he is 55-50 with a 4.77 ERA and a 2.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 150 games (149 starts) through his six-year career. Francis also represented Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Founded in the fall of 1992, the PIL is considered by many to be the premier Summer Collegiate Baseball league in the Northwest. Most PIL players are NCAA eligible and are unpaid in order to maintain their eligibility. The PIL is different from many other summer collegiate baseball leagues in that the league also allows former professionals and college graduates to participate.
