Francisco Ríos

Note: This page discusses 2010s and 2020s minor league pitcher Francisco Ríos. For the college coach of the same name, click here.

Jesus Francisco Rios

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.

• Born May 6, 1995 in Monclova, Coahuila Mexico

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

The Toronto Blue Jays signed pitcher Francisco Rios on July 20, 2012. He began his pro career in 2013 for the DSL Blue Jays going 4-6, 4.47 in 15 games, including 9 starts, then in 2014 he was with the Bluefield Blue Jays in the Appalachian League, going 3-2, 5.91. In 2016, he was with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League and finished at 3-6, 4.27 in 15 games.

If results in his first few seasons of pro ball had been nothing particularly impressive, that changed in 2016 when he started off by going 2-0, 1.20 in his first 6 starts for the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League, with 43 strikeouts and 8 walks in 30 innings. That earned him a quick promotion to the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League, and an invitation to play for the World Team at the 2016 Futures Game. He was not quite as dominant in the FSL but finished the year with an overall record of 7-6, 2.91 in 25 games, with 108 strikeouts in 120 2/3 innings. But when he moved up to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League in 2017, he regressed, finishing at 3-9, 4.29 in 23 games. In 2018, he had health issues, being limited to 18 games and a record of 1-5, 6.70, including a rehabilitation stint in the Gulf Coast League.

In addition to his time in organized baseball, Francisco has played winter ball in his native Mexico every year since 2015-16, after having made his first appearance in the Mexican Pacific League in 2013-14, when he was just 18 years old. He has played only for the Tomateros de Culiacan during that time, his best year coming in 2017-18 when he was 2-2, 2.57 in 8 games. In 2018-19, he also played for the Leones del Caracas, in the Venezuelan League.