▁Blue ▁J ays ▁of ▁the ▁B . C . ▁Premier ▁Baseball ▁League , ▁the ▁highest ▁cal ib re ▁junior ▁league ▁in ▁British ▁Columbia , ▁Francis ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁purs ue ▁a ▁major ▁in ▁physics ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁British ▁Columbia ▁while ▁playing ▁for ▁the ▁U BC ▁Th under bird s . ▁He ▁was ▁selected ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁round ▁( 9 th ▁pick ▁overall ) ▁by ▁the ▁Colorado ▁Rock ies ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball ▁draft . ▁Al ong ▁with ▁Adam ▁Lo ew en , ▁who ▁was ▁selected ▁at ▁fourth ▁overall ▁in ▁the ▁same ▁draft , ▁the ▁two ▁received ▁much ▁public ity ▁as ▁they ▁were ▁draft ed ▁higher ▁than ▁any ▁other ▁Canadian ▁baseball ▁players ▁up ▁to ▁that ▁time . ▁Francis ▁was ▁signed ▁by ▁Greg ▁Hop kins . ▁ ▁Professional ▁career ▁ ▁Colorado ▁Rock ies ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁Francis ▁was ▁named ▁Minor ▁League ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁by ▁both ▁Baseball ▁America ▁and ▁USA ▁Today , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁player ▁in ▁Colorado ▁Rock ies ▁organiz ational ▁history ▁to ▁win ▁either ▁of ▁the ▁awards . ▁He ▁became ▁the ▁fourth ▁player ▁to ▁be ▁hon oured ▁in ▁the ▁same ▁season ▁by ▁both ▁publications , ▁joining ▁And ru w ▁Jones ▁( 1 9 9 5 – 1 9 9 6 ), ▁Rick ▁An k iel ▁( 1 9 9 9 ), ▁and ▁Josh ▁Beck ett ▁( 2 0 0 1 ). ▁Com b ined ▁between ▁Double - A ▁Tul sa ▁and ▁Tri ple - A ▁Colorado ▁Spr ings ,