Bowden Francis is putting in the work as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The Blue Jays right-hander now waits to see if Toronto tenders him a contract.

Francis has been showing up consistently on the Instagram page of Justin Wakefield, a professional trainer in Arizona. The workouts suggest the rehab is moving along.

He had full Tommy John surgery in February 2026 and missed the entire season.

That timing makes Opening Day a stretch. A return sometime during the 2027 season is the more realistic target.

Now comes the business side. He's among Toronto's arbitration-eligible players, and the non-tender deadline is Nov. 20.

The Athletic's Mitch Bannon called his case one of the toughest. The key question, Bannon said, is how the Jays project his recovery.

Bowden Francis' 2024 form is why Toronto should keep him

His track record is a mixed bag. He went 8-5 with a 3.30 ERA in 2024.

Then 2025 went sideways, with a 2-8 record and a 6.05 ERA.

So which pitcher comes back? Nobody knows yet, and that's exactly why the decision is hard.

The rotation need is real. José Berrios is also rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Cody Ponce is coming back from ACL surgery, and Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer are free agents.

Tender him. Toronto's rotation depth is too thin to let a recovering arm walk for nothing, and a healthy Francis by midseason could be a meaningful boost.

It's like keeping a seed packet through the winter. You don't know what grows until spring, but you'd be foolish to toss it before planting.

Spencer Miles, Spencer Arrighetti and others will compete for spots early. Francis would give the club another option once the summer grind begins.

The Instagram videos are encouraging, but the Jays need more than highlights. By Nov. 20, Ross Atkins has to decide whether that comeback is worth a roster spot.