Francis begins his first season with the Ducks and eighth in professional baseball. The right-hander spent the first four seasons of his professional career in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization (2017-19, 2021). During that time, he compiled a 9-3 record with a 5.04 ERA in 42 games (seven starts), striking out 97 batters in 84.0 innings of work. In 2018, the Tallahassee, Fla., native combined to post an 8-0 record with a 2.53 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 14 appearances (four starts) between the Diamondbacks Arizona League affiliate and Single-A Hillsboro.

The 27-year-old went on to spend two seasons with the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association (2022-23). In 38 games (36 starts), he went 10-14 with a 4.88 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 182.2 innings. He then split the 2024 season with the Gastonia Baseball Club in the Atlantic League and Algodoneros de Union Laguna of the Mexican League. Most recently, he accrued a 4.05 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 40.0 innings over 10 games (nine starts) with Criollos de Caguas during this winter’s Puerto Rican Winter League season. Francis was originally selected by the Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the 2017 amateur draft.