| Kenley Jansen | |
|---|---|
 Jansen with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1987-09-30)September 30, 1987 (age 38) Willemstad,Curaçao | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 24, 2010, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 54–40 |
| Earned run average | 2.57 |
| Strikeouts | 1,278 |
| Saves | 476 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Kenley Geronimo Jansen (born September 30, 1987) is a Curaçaoan professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theLos Angeles Dodgers,Atlanta Braves,Boston Red Sox, andLos Angeles Angels. He has represented theNetherlands national baseball team in international competition.
Signed by the Dodgers as an undrafted free agent in 2004, Jansen converted from acatcher to arelief pitcher in the minor leagues and made his major league debut in 2010. He served as the Dodgers'closer starting in 2012, and led theNational League (NL) insaves in 2017 and 2022. After 11 years with the Dodgers, he entered free agency and signed a one-year deal with the Braves in 2022. He then signed with the Red Sox.
Jansen is a four-timeMLB All-Star and two-timeNL Reliever of the Year (2016, 2017). In 2019, Jansen became the 30th pitcher to reach300 career saves. In 2023, he became the 7th pitcher to total 400 career saves. He also is a member of 450-save club, having reached that on April 8, 2025.
Jansen was born inWillemstad,Curaçao,[1] the youngest of three sons of Isidor and Bernadette Jansen.[2] His father worked in construction until suffering a stroke when Kenley was 12. His mother was a travel agent.[2] Jansen grew up as a Braves fan, because the team's games were broadcast in Curaçao onTBS. The team signed fellow CuraçaoanAndruw Jones and Jansen's older brother Ardley.[3] Kenley Jansen began playing baseball at the age of six, alongside his older brothers. He began as an outfielder before moving to shortstop. Jansen then metAndrelton Simmons and was shifted to third base. He later played first base andcatcher.[4]
Jansen was signed as an undrafted free agent catcher by the Dodgers organization on November 17, 2004[5] and was assigned to the Rookie ClassGulf Coast Dodgers. He played in 37 games and hit .304[1] before being promoted to theOgden Raptors of thePioneer League on August 26.[6] He had two hits in 11 at-bats in three games for Ogden.[1] He was back with the Gulf Coast Dodgers the following season, hitting .245 in 35 games.[1] After the season he played for theNorth Shore Honu in theHawaii Winter Baseball League, where he hit .121 in nine games.[6]
Jansen split 2007 between the Raptors and the Class-AGreat Lakes Loons of theMidwest League, hitting .207 in 73 games.[1] After the season, he again played in Hawaii Winter Baseball, this time for theWest Oahu CaneFires[7] In 2008 with the Loons, he hit .227 and 9 home runs in 79 games.[1] He was selected to the mid-season Midwest League All-Star game.[8]
In 2009, he was the starting catcher for theNetherlands team in theWorld Baseball Classic. In the Netherlands' upset of the favoredDominican Republic team, Jansen threw outWilly Taveras on an attempted steal of third base in the ninth inning, a key play in the game.[9] He began 2009 with theInland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino, but hit just .202 in 38 games.[1] Despite that, he appeared in eight games for theTriple-AAlbuquerque Isotopes but had just five hits in 27 at-bats.[1]
The Dodgers convinced Jansen that he had no future at catcher because of his poor offensive numbers and that he should switch to pitching. Under the tutelage of former major leaguerCharlie Hough, he made the conversion in the second half of the 2009 season at Inland Empire.[10] He pitched11+2⁄3 innings for the 66ers, allowing six earned runs.[1] He continued the conversion in theArizona Fall League for thePeoria Javelinas.[1]
Jansen was added to the Dodgers40-man roster on November 19, 2009.[11] He started with Inland Empire again and allowed only five runs in 18 innings while striking out 28 batters.[1] On May 15, 2010, he was promoted to the Double-AChattanooga Lookouts, where he was selected to the mid-seasonSouthern League All-Star Game.[12] He pitched 27 innings in 22 games for the Lookouts with a 1.67 ERA.[1]
On July 23, 2010, Jansen was promoted to the Dodgers.[13] He made his Major League debut in relief on July 24 against theNew York Mets, where he pitched a scoreless inning, retiring all three batters he faced and striking out two.[14] On July 25, Jansen recorded his first Major League save, when he pitched a 1-2-3 inning against the Mets.[15]
On August 26, Jansen walked and scored a run in his first Major League plate appearance, in Milwaukee againstYovani Gallardo of theBrewers.[16] He collected his first major league hit on August 31, a single up the middle offKyle Kendrick of thePhiladelphia Phillies.[17] Jansen recorded his first win against theHouston Astros on September 11.[18] He appeared in 25 games with the Dodgers in 2010, working 27 innings with a 1–0 record and a 0.67 ERA. He also saved four games in 2010.[5]
In 2011, Jansen became a key member of the Dodgers' bullpen. He was 2–1 with a 2.85 ERA in53+2⁄3 innings and saved five games.[5] Jansen also struck out 96 batters, setting a new Major League season record with16+1⁄3 strikeouts per nine innings.[19]
In May 2012, Jansen became the Dodgers'closer afterJavy Guerra struggled in the role.[20] At the end of the season, after missing some time due toheart problems, Jansen was replaced as closer byBrandon League.[21] He appeared in 65 games, compiling a 5–3 record, 2.35 ERA, 99 strikeouts, and 25 saves.[5]
Jansen began 2013 as the setup man in the bullpen but resumed the role as closer when League struggled.[22] He pitched in 75 games with a 4–3 record, 1.88 ERA and 28 saves.[5] He did not allow any runs in three appearances in the2013 National League Division Series (NLDS) against theAtlanta Braves[23] but was less effective in theChampionship Series (NLCS) against theCardinals, allowing two runs in two innings.[24]
On February 11, 2014, Jansen avoided his first arbitration hearing by signing a $4.3 million contract with the Dodgers.[25] Fully established as the Dodgers' closer in 2014, Jansen worked in 68 games with a 2.76 ERA, 101 strikeouts and 44 saves.[5] He became just the fourth Dodger pitcher in history with at least 40 saves in a season, joiningÉric Gagné (who did it three times),Todd Worrell, andJeff Shaw.[26] Jansen only pitched one inning in theNLDS against the Cardinals.[27]
On January 16, 2015, Jansen again avoided arbitration, signing a one-year $7.425 million contract with the Dodgers.[28] However, on February 17, he underwent surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot. The recovery time kept him out of action until May.[29] Jansen was eventually activated off thedisabled list on May 15 and rejoined the Dodgers.[30] Jansen struck out 23 batters in his first 14 games of the season, without giving up a walk. This brokeJay Howell's team records, set in1991, of 13 games without a walk to start a season and 20 strikeouts without a walk to start a season.[31] Jansen eventually struck out 27 before he finally walked a batter on June 30, eight shy of the major league record.[32] He made 54 appearances for the team in 2015 with a 2.41 ERA and 36 saves. He struck out 80 batters while only walking 8 all season.[33] He became the first Dodgers pitcher with five seasons of 80 or more strikeouts in relief.[34] He appeared in three games, with two saves in the2015 NLDS and did not allow a run in3+2⁄3 innings.[5]
In his final year of arbitration, Jansen signed a one-year, $10.65 million, contract with the Dodgers on January 15, 2016.[35] On June 20, Jansen picked up his 162nd career save against theWashington Nationals, breaking the Dodgers franchise record, previously held by Gagné.[36] He was also selected to the National League team for the2016 All-Star Game, his first all-star selection.[37] On August 24, Jansen tiedJim Brewer's franchise record with 604 strikeouts by a reliever.[38] In 71 games, he was 3–2 with a 1.83 ERA and 47 saves and earned theNational League Reliever of the Year Award.[39] Of all MLB pitchers, he held right-handed batters to the lowest batting average, .107 (in 30 or more innings).[40] In the2016 NLDS against theWashington Nationals, Jansen pitched in four games and worked5+1⁄3 innings, allowing four runs and saving two games.[41] In the2016 NLCS against theChicago Cubs he pitched6+1⁄3 innings over three games, with one save, and struck out 10 while only allowing one hit.[42]
On January 10, 2017, the Dodgers announced the re-signing of Jansen to a five-year, $80 million contract.[43]
On June 11, he recorded his 200th career save.[44] On June 2, Jansen recorded his 36th strikeout of the season, setting an MLB season record for most strikeouts without giving up a walk.[45] The previous record was held by Cardinals starting pitcherAdam Wainwright, who struck out 35 batters before giving up a walk in the 2013 season.[46] The streak eventually reached 51 strikeouts before he issued his first walk of the season, givingNolan Arenado of theColorado Rockies a base on balls on June 25.[47] He was named to his second straightAll-Star Game.[48] Jansen pitched in 65 games for the Dodgers in 2017, with five wins, a 1.32 ERA, 109 strikeouts (with only seven walks) and 41 saves.[5] For the second straight year, he was awarded theNational League Reliever of the Year Award.[49]
Jansen started the playoffs by finishing all three games of the Dodgers2017 NLDS sweep of theDiamondbacks. He saved two of the games and did not allow an earned run in3+2⁄3 innings.[5] He pitched4+1⁄3 innings over four games in the2017 NLCS against theCubs and did not allow a batter to reach base while striking out eight.[5] Jansen allowed two runs to score, including a solo homer byMarwin González in Game Two of the2017 World Series against theHouston Astros. It was his first blown save in the postseason and snapped his MLB record of converting his first 12 post-season save opportunities.[50] In Game Five of the series, he picked up the loss in the Dodgers 10 inning defeat. In his second inning of work, he hitBrian McCann with two outs and then after a walk, he gave up a walk-off single toAlex Bregman.[51] Overall, he pitched8+2⁄3 innings over six games, with two saves and three runs allowed as the Dodgers lost the series in seven games.[5]
Jansen was bothered by an injury during spring training and was slow-played after his 2017 workload, resulting in two blown saves during a shaky April. He turned it around in May, June, and July and was chosen for his third straightall-star game in 2018.[52]
Jansen's heart problems resurfaced during a four-game set in Colorado, and Jansen was placed on the 10-day disabled list with an irregular heartbeat.[53] He struggled upon returning, losing his first two games back and blowing a save in his third. He struggled for the rest of the season. He finished the season with a 1–5 record, 3.01 ERA and 38 saves.[5]
He was effective againstAtlanta andMilwaukee in the postseason, not allowing a run,[5] but again struggled in the2018 World Series, blowing two save opportunities as he allowed game-tying home runs toJackie Bradley Jr. in Game 3 (which went 18 innings)[54] andSteve Pearce in Game 4[55] as the Dodgers lost the series to theBoston Red Sox in five games.[56]
On April 7, 2019, Jansen recorded a four-out save against theColorado Rockies atCoors Field inDenver.[57] On May 3 and 4, Jansen converted saves against the San Diego Padres.[58] But on May 5, pitching for the third day in a row, Jansen walked a batter and allowed two bunt singles to load the bases with no outs. He retired the next two hitters before he gave up a walk-off grand slam toHunter Renfroe, as the Dodgers lost 8–5.[59]
Jansen recorded two extended saves in a series against the Mets, with a 5-out save in the first game of the series and a 4-out save in the fourth game.[58] This was his first five-out save since June 2018 in Pittsburgh. He debuted the intentionalbalk in the top of the ninth against theChicago Cubs on June 15, 2019. The intentional balk was an idea he came up with bench coachBob Geren, in which he has a runner on second and two outs and balks the runner to third to prevent the runner fromstealing signs.[60] On September 25, in a game against theSan Diego Padres, Jansen picked up his300th career save, becoming the 30th pitcher all time and the first in Dodgers history.[61] He pitched in 62 games, with a 5–3 record and 33 saves, but a career-high ERA of 3.71.[5]
In the2019 NLDS, Jansen pitched to five batters and did not allow any of them to reach base.[5]
Jansen was late reporting to camp after thepandemic-imposed shutdown, suffering with aCOVID-19 infection, which affected his conditioning during the shutdown.[62] He appeared in 24.1 innings over 27 games during the season, with a 3–1 record and a 3.33 ERA with 11 saves (3rd in the NL), while leading the National League with 24 games finished.[5] Jansen pitched one scoreless inning in the first game of theWild Card Series to pick up the save[63] and in theNLDS he allowed two runs to score in1+1⁄3 innings.[64] He picked up a save and pitched three perfect innings over three games in theNLCS.[65] In Game 4 of the2020 World Series against theTampa Bay Rays, Jansen blew his fourth career World Series save, setting a new World Series record.[66]
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On August 25, Jansen became the twelfth reliever in MLB history to record 1,000 strikeouts by striking outAustin Nola of theSan Diego Padres.[67] Jansen finished the 2021 season with 38 saves, a 2.22 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 69 innings.[5] In theNational League Wild Card Game against theSt. Louis Cardinals, he struck out three batters in a scoreless ninth inning to record the win[68] and in the2021 NLDS, he struck out five of the six batters he faced in his two innings of work.[5] In the2021 NLCS, played against theAtlanta Braves, Jansen, pitched in five of the six games, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out six and recording the save in Game 3.[69]
Jansen signed a one-year contract worth $16 million with theAtlanta Braves on March 18, 2022.[70][71] He made his Braves debut on April 8, surrendering 3 earned runs in the 9th inning against theCincinnati Reds in a non-save situation.[72] On April 19, Jansen returned toDodger Stadium and was met with a mixture of cheers and boos from Dodger fans as he entered the game. He collected the save against his former team, retiring former BraveFreddie Freeman for the final out of the game.[73]
On December 13, 2022, Jansen signed a two-year contract with theBoston Red Sox.[74] On May 10, 2023, Jansen became the seventh pitcher in MLB history to record 400 saves. He was named to his fourthAll-Star Game on July 2, as the lone Red Sox representative.[75] Jansen abruptly left a home game against the Yankees on September 12;[76] the next day, he was placed on the COVID-related injured list;[77] he was reactivated on September 23.[78] For the 2023 season, Jansen notched 29 saves with a 3.63 ERA while striking out 52 batters in44+2⁄3 innings.[5]
Jansen began the 2024 season as Boston's closer. On April 20, he earned the 425th save of his career, passingJohn Franco for sole possession of fifth place on the major-league all-time list.[79] Jansen finished the 2024 season with 27 saves, a 3.29 ERA, and 62 strikeouts in54+2⁄3 innings.
On February 11, 2025, Jansen signed a one-year, $10 million contract with theLos Angeles Angels.[80]
Jansen has represented theNetherlands at three of the fourWorld Baseball Classics. In 2009, he was the starting catcher for theNetherlands team in theWorld Baseball Classic. In the Netherlands' upset of the favoredDominican Republic team, Jansen threw outWilly Taveras on an attempted steal of third base in the ninth inning, a key play in the game.[9] Jansen was a late addition to theNetherlands national baseball team for the2013 World Baseball Classic, he had transitioned to pitching in late 2009, and he was added to the roster for the semi-finals but did not appear in the game.[81]
After initially saying he would not pitch in the2017 tournament, having signed a five-year $80 million contract with theDodgers in the offseason, Jansen again joined the team when they advanced to the semi-finals.[82] Jansen appeared in the team's game againstTeam Puerto Rico, which including Dodgers teammateKiké Hernandez. Jansen pitched a scoreless 9th inning, striking out two, but team Netherlands lost on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th inning.[83] He represented theNetherlands national baseball team at the2023 World Baseball Classic.[84]
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Jansen relies almost exclusively on acut fastball that mostly ranges from 90 to 94 miles per hour (mph). Earlier in his career, he was able to throw the pitch at 98 mph, and he exceeded 100 mph in 2014.[85] In 2012, he used this pitch about 93% of the time. His other main pitch is aslider in the low to mid-80s. He experimented with achangeup in the 2009–2011 seasons and debuted afour-seam fastball at the end of the 2012 season. He now throws four-seamer fastballs at 92–96 MPH. Jansen relies both on movement and exceptional command, throwing over 70% strikes.[86]
Jansen has recorded extremely high strikeout rates, garnering 14.6strikeouts per 9 innings pitched through the 2012 season. This is the second-highest total in history among pitchers who have thrown at least 140 innings (behind onlyCraig Kimbrel).[87]
Jansen was diagnosed in 2011 with anirregular heartbeat (specifically,atrial fibrillation), and he missed some time that season while he was placed onblood thinners to prevent clots. The problem resurfaced late in the 2012 season, and he again missed considerable time while being treated.[88][89] On October 24, 2012, Jansen underwent a 3-hourcatheter ablation procedure in which Koonwalee Nademanee identified abnormal tissue in hisleft atrium andcauterized it to stop it from generating abnormal electrical signals.[90][91][92]
Jansen suffered a recurrence of his irregular heartbeat before a game inDenver on August 9, 2018. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list and the team reported he would likely miss a month of the season.[93] Doctors determined the condition could be controlled with medication until the offseason, so Jansen returned to the hill just 11 days later. However, the heart medication he took, which includedbeta blockers, had the side effects of leaving him feeling fatigued and unemotional.[94][95] He gave up four home runs in his first two outings back, blowing both save opportunities, and after he protested the effects of his medication his doctors switched him to aspirin.[95][96] Jansen stayed in Los Angeles when the Dodgers returned to Denver in September because he was at high risk of astroke if he returned to elevation.[57] Jansen completed the season and provided scoreless relief in seven of nine postseason appearances, allowing two runs in 10.2 innings (1.69 ERA).
On November 26, 2018, Jansen underwent a5+1⁄2-hour heart ablation procedure, again performed by Koonlawee Nademanee, in Los Angeles.[97] After the procedure the doctor told Jansen that small veins near the site of his 2012 procedure had grown and were agitated bydehydration, which caused the irregular signals that occurred in Denver. Jansen dedicated himself to a healthier diet after recovering from the operation and reported to spring training 25 pounds lighter. He no longer has to take blood-thinning medication.[98]
On July 12, 2020, Jansen reported to summer training camp for the first time after recovering fromCOVID-19.[99]
In June 2022, Jansen again dealt with an irregular heartbeat.[100]
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Jansen spends most of his off-season break back home in Curaçao.[2] Kenley is married to a Curaçao native named Gianni Jansen-Fransisca. He has two daughters, Natalia Hannah Jansen, who was born on March 16, 2013, and Key’Gia Keziah Jansen born on September 12, 2021, and two sons, Kaden Isaiah Jansen, born on August 16, 2015, and Kyrian Jeremiah Jansen, born on August 22, 2018. He throws right-handed but writes with his left hand.[101] A local team in Curaçao, the Wildcats, have renamed themselves in honor of Jansen, and competed in theLatin American Series as Wildcats KJ74.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | National League Reliever of the Month June 2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | National League Reliever of the Month July–August 2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | American League Reliever of the Month July 2025 | Succeeded by |
