DENVER, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Colorado Rockies prized pitching prospect Jeff Francis will join the club later this month instead of going to the Olympics.
General Manager Dan O'Dowd made the announcement Tuesday. He said Francis should make two more starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League, then join the Rockies during their Aug. 24-26 trip to Atlanta for his major league debut.
Francis already has made five starts at Colorado Springs, where he is 2-2 with a 1.97 ERA, three walks and 39 strikeouts.
"We are disappointed," said Greg Hamilton, director of national teams for Baseball Canada, "(but) we wish Jeff the very best as he embarks on what promises to be a very successful career."
The hard-throwing left-hander was 13-1 at Double-A Tulsa.