Dutch National League star Kenley Jansen becomes one of seven pitchers with 400 MLB career saves

Dutch National League star Kenley Jansen becomes one of seven pitchers with 400 MLB career saves
11/05/2023
The 35-year-old star reliever debuted internationally as a catcher at the World Baseball Classic 2009. "I can say today I'm the seventh guy who did that. With baseball being around for so long, it's unbelievable."

Kenley Jansen, a Dutch National Team veteran, celebrated his 400th Major League Baseball (MLB) career save as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Braves in Atlanta on Wednesday, 10 May, 5-2. Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The other six pitchers with 400+ MLB career saves are Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), Lee Smith (478), Francisco Rodriguez (437), John Franco (424) and Billy Wagner (422).

Jansen was born in 1987 in Curaçao. He signed his first professional contract as a 17-year-old catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004. He made his international debut as a switch-hitting catcher at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He appeared in five games, playing brilliant defence but getting only one hit. His offensive struggles convinced the Dodgers to turn him into a pitcher. He made his MLB debut on 24 July 2010.

Jansen helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. He was selected to three All-Star Games and earned Reliever of the Year honours in 2016 and 2017, and was the National League saves leader for both the Dodgers (2017) and the Atlanta Braves (2022). He moved to the Red Sox as a free agent for the 2023 season.

After transitioning to pitcher, he represented the Netherlands at the 2013 and the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

"It's just surreal," Jansen said. "It's just crazy. I can say today I'm the seventh guy who did that. With baseball being around for so long, it's unbelievable. I'm just going to continue to let this keep motivating me and keep striving for more."

The first player who congratulated Jansen was veteran third baseman Justin Turner, who was on the same Doger World Series-winning team.