SP Jeff Francis To Report To Reds Triple-A Squad

The Cincinnati Reds will send starting pitcher Jeff Francis to Triple-A to begin the season, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.

“I kind of told him that the other day,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. “There’s still a possibility he could pitch in the bullpen but we decided to send him there because we need to have a starter available in case something happens. He pitched well enough where he would certainly be that guy. He had a good spring other than that one outing.”

Francis was a non-roster invitee to Reds camp this season, and posted a 6.65 ERA in five spring games.