As initially reported by C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer, left hander Jeff Francis was told that he has not made the big league club and he accepted an assignment, along with a $100,000 deal with an opt out option on June 1st, to head to Louisville.
Francis has spent time in Louisville before, making 12 starts for the Bats in 2012 where he posted a 3.72 ERA in 77.1 innings with 18 walks and 65 strikeouts. After those 12 starts he also had an opt out clause and he used it then signed with the Rockies where he had spent the second half of 2012 and the full 2013 season, mostly with their big league club. With the Rockies in that time he had a 5.84 ERA in 183.1 innings with 46 walks and 139 strikeouts.