Francis may get a shot

Rockies interested

It was this time 10 years ago, when North Delta’s Jeff Francis became the second highest MLB draft choice to ever come out of the B. C. Premier Baseball League.

The left- handed hurler, who, then at the age of 21, ascended almost to the top of baseball prospects as a member of the BCPBL’s North Delta Blue Jays and later the UBC Thunderbirds, was selected ninth overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2002 MLB First- Year Player Draft.

Now at the age of 31, his career is once again at a crossroads.

Francis was released from his minor- league contract by the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, at his own request, according to a tweet from ESPN baseball writer Jerry Crasnick. Francis is now a free agent.

The Reds signed Francis to a minor- league contract in January. In 12 starts this season with Triple- A Louisville, Francis recorded a 3- 6 record with a 3.72 earned- run average to go along with 65 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 77.1 innings pitched.

News of the release comes one day after Francis tossed a sevenhit complete- game shutout for the Louisville Bats, as they toppled the Durham Bulls 7- 0.

Now begins the guessing game as to where Francis — who had one start in the 2007 World Series as a member of the Rockies — will end up.

MLB. com is reporting that the Rockies, the same team that first brought Francis into the world of professional baseball, is trying to bring him back, although there is no guarantee of that happening.

“We are interested; I have no idea of the outcome of that interest,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd was quoted as saying on MLB. com Monday.

As a professional, Francis has fallen victim to injuries, particularly in the last four years, spending considerable time on the disabled list with inflammation and soreness in his pitching shoulder.

The 2012 MLB First- Year Player Draft goes this week, beginning today with the first round, Tuesday with rounds two through 15, and concluding Wednesday with rounds 16 through 40.