Blue Jays’ Bowden Francis rides bike after close to no-hitter

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Someday, Bowden Francis goes to be too recognizable to take his typical type of transportation to and from work.

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If he retains tossing gems and coming near throwing no-hitters for the Toronto Blue Jays – maybe even throwing the second no-no in franchise historical past — that day will come sooner quite than later.

After his newest masterpiece on Wednesday in opposition to the visiting New York Mets, the rising star was caught on his e-bike exterior Rogers Centre by a few keen followers.

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In keeping with stories, the 28-year-old caught round after being observed and signed some autographs for followers earlier than driving off.

Whereas Jays nice Dave Stieb stays the one participant in crew historical past to throw a no-hitter, Francis has come shut twice this season. Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Mets was the second time this yr that he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, solely have it damaged up by a house run.

One consumer on Reddit joked that maybe Francis is extra hittable on his bike dodging motorists in Toronto than he’s on the mound.

“‘I don’t know, nothing particular, I feel he’s hittable.’ – Toronto motorists,” one consumer commented, referring to feedback made by Los Angeles Angels’ Taylor Ward, who broke up Francis’ no-hit bid final month.

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“I actually don’t know,” Ward mentioned post-game. “, I believed every thing was hittable.”

The next day when Francis was being interviewed throughout the sport’s dwell broadcast, fellow starter Chris Bassitt held up a hand-made signal reminding everybody, together with Ward, of the statline Francis had compiled in his latest outings.

“I’d by no means acknowledge this man in public, he simply seems to be like every previous hipster,” one other consumer joked about Francis’ relative anonymity.

Different followers had been impressed by the bike and Francis’ headphones, with many questioning what they had been.

And, maybe the cherry on high of this sundae, the photograph was shared by the Blue Jays fan that went viral earlier this season after she acquired smoked by a foul ball, leaving a big welt on her brow.

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Liz McGuire posted the photograph on X on Wednesday night, giving credit score to consumer @LaurieWulfand.

“That is how @Bowdenpoint0 rolls after tossin close to no-hitter. WHAT A BEAUTY,” McGuire wrote.

In Could, McGuire posted a photograph on X of herself sporting a significant league-sized welt on her brow and subsequent black eye, the results of being struck within the face by a Bo Bichette foul ball — a “110-m.p.h. bullet,”

She tagged the Jays in her publish and the incident went viral.

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“Hey @BlueJays I acquired my face mashed in by a 110mph foul off Bo Bichette’s bat,” she wrote in a publish on X.

“I didn’t even get the ball. I even stayed until the tip of the sport. Any method you may hook a lady up?”

The publish garnered some 13 million views and attracted the eye of buying and selling card firm Topps, which introduced it had made a particular card commemorating McGuire.

“We made a customized Topps Now buying and selling card of Liz McGuire: the fan who took a 110MPH Bo Bichette foul ball to the top and STAYED AT THE GAME,” the corporate wrote in a publish on X, including that every one 110 copies of the cardboard can be gifted to McGuire.

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After a tough begin to the season, Francis has been sensible over the previous few months. Over his previous six begins, he has given up simply 13 hits in 43 innings and received the AL pitcher of the month award for August.

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