MLB

Longtime Closer Kenley Jansen Started Out as a Catcher You Didn’t Try to Steal On

That guy behind the plate had quite an arm, so they made him a pitcher, and now he’s third on the all-time saves list.
Longtime Closer Kenley Jansen Started Out as a Catcher You Didn’t Try to Steal On
Kenley Jansen of the Detroit Tigers celebrates his team's win over the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit on April 15, 2026. Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Donald Laible
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The Detroit Tigers’ Kenley Jansen is now third all-time among MLB relief pitchers in saves, but he started his career as a catcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Jansen threw a scoreless ninth inning on Tuesday on the road against Kansas City to notch his 479th career save, moving into third place among saves leaders. Before Friday’s Tigers-Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, Jansen sits with 480 saves, trailing only Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman (601) and Mariano Rivera (652).

Donald Laible
Donald Laible
Author
Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.