The 4 best Blue Jays development stories of 2024

Bowden Francis

Finally, with regards to the best developmental story for the Jays this season, none of them comes even close to what Bowden Francis managed to accomplish for the team in 2024. Things appeared to be already heading upwards for Francis when he began the year in the starting rotation. However, two forgettable starts later, he was relegated back to the bullpen. Three relief appearances later, he was on the sidelines with a right forearm injury. So not exactly the start to the year that Francis and the Jays were looking for.

When Francis eventually returned in June, the Jays kept him as a reliever, with hopes that he could rediscover the success that he showed in the role in the previous season. However, he struggled to a 4.13 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 11 appearances and was ultimately sent back down to the minors again in mid-July. But whatever they worked on with Francis during the two-week stretch that he was down there, it has turned out to be the turning point to his tumultuous season.

With the fallout of the trade deadline, Francis was brought back up to the Jays to work in the capacity as a starter once again and the rest was history. As a completely different pitcher, he became one of the best pitchers in all of baseball during the final two months of the season. In 11 games, Francis posted a stellar 1.80 ERA, .140 opponents batting average, 0.60 WHIP, while giving up just 13 earned runs with 8 walks and 58 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched. That included taking a no-hit bid into the ninth inning for two of his starts. More importantly, he showed tremendous confidence and mastery of his control and command in the process. With the sudden breakout of Francis, it appears that he has all but secured his spot in the Jays’ rotation heading into the 2025 season. Hopefully, with the ace vibes that we all witnessed in his second-half performance, Francis could be materializing into the second coming of the late Roy Halladay in front of our eyes.