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Prospect
in the Spotlight: Jeff Francis
by Daniel Paulling
September 11, 2004
Jeff Francis
Height 6-5; Weight 200; Bats L; Throws L; Position SP;
DOB 8/21/84; Team Colorado Rockies
| Team |
W |
IP |
SO |
ERA |
| Tri City (A) |
0 |
10.2 |
16 |
0.00 |
| Asheville (A) |
0 |
20.0 |
23 |
1.80 |
| Visalia (A) |
12 |
160.2 |
153 |
3.47 |
| Tulsa (AA) |
13 |
113.2 |
147 |
1.98 |
| Colorado Springs (AAA) |
3 |
41 |
49 |
3.07 |
Denver, Colorado: It’s where pitchers go to die, especially
lefties like Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. The Rockies are high
on Jeff Francis, though, thinking his chances to dominate is very
good.
“I don’t foresee him struggling at all,” says
the Rockies Director of Player Personnel Bill Geivett on Francis’
ability to succeed in Triple A.
With the ninth pick of the 2002 draft, the Rockies selected Jeff
Francis from the University of British Columbia, where he got attention
with his 12-3 record with a 0.90 ERA in 100 IP as a sophomore. His
body is rather lanky, standing at six feet five inches, and once
he continues to fill out his body his velocity should pick up.
The tall lefty has an 88-92 MPH fastball that is rated as being
an adequate pitch. He also throws a good curveball with slight slurve
(curveball plus slider) movement. In the past year and a half, the
Rockie prodigy has refined his changeup to the point where it is
useable at the Major League level. He has sharp control and will
throw strikes and change speeds.
“This guy has got some weapons to use,” says Geivett.
John Sickels, of Baseball Prospect Book 2004 fame, says that Francis
is definitely one of the top five left handed pitching prospects
in all of baseball.
The biggest thing for Francis will be whether or not he can be successful
at Coors Field, as it is difficult for most any pitcher to succeed
there. Scouts rate him as a very probable number two starter in
a normal place and that is a good rating.
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