The left-hander was yesterday named the best first-year player in the league after becoming a key part of the Sydney Blue Sox pitching rotation as they finished one win short of the championship series on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Boomerangs junior made 10 starts and pitched 54.1 innings, tying veteran Chris Oxspring for a team-best four wins.

Francis, who came to the Blue Sox after finishing a 3-year stint playing college baseball with Georgia State University, was surprised to win the rookie award after a rough finish to the season.

‘‘There were some good rookies this year,’’ Francis said.

‘‘I didn’t really expect it towards the end of the year.

‘‘I was having a good season but hit a bit of a slump towards the end.

‘‘I thought that might put a hold on things, but I had a really good last game of the regular season against Perth that probably helped out.’’

His post-season on the mound ended with a 14-4 loss to the Melbourne Aces in game four of the five-game grand final qualifying series on Sunday.

Francis conceded eight runs in a little over four innings in the loss, which levelled the series at 2-all.

In his other finals start, Francis pitched eight innings, striking out five and surrendering just six hits and two earned runs, in a 10-4 win over Adelaide.

Francis is hoping that form and the award win will help him secure a contract in the US and an easier path back to fiancee Megan Kallatsa, who he met at Georgia State while completing a degree in exercise science.

‘‘I’m trying to get over to the States whether it’s with an affiliated club of a major league team or just independent ball,’’ he said.

‘‘No one has approached me directly but I’ve spoken to a few of the Blue Sox staff.

‘‘They’ve got some connections in the States and hopefully that can help me get a start over there.’’

In the meantime, Francis will play for the Central Coast Marlins in the final few weeks of the Sydney Major League.

‘‘The Marlins are second at the moment, so I want to help them win the comp and then hopefully I’ll get back to the States,’’ Francis said yesterday.

He hopes to return to the ABL, which is in the second year of its second incarnation.

‘‘If I’m back in Australia, I’d definitely like to give it another go,’’ he said.

‘‘Growing up I remember watching the Hunter Eagles when the ABL was around, so it was a really great feeling to be the one signing autographs instead of being the one receiving them as a little kid.’’