An exclusive club
Three saves. That’s all that still stands between Kenley Jansen and history. The Detroit Tigers reliever, 38, has 497 career saves. Get to 500 and he would join an ultra-exclusive group: only Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601) have done better in Major League Baseball history.
But his 2026 season will not be remembered for the numbers. 21 saves, his lowest total since becoming a full-time closer. A 3.27 ERA. And a Tigers team heading for the playoffs. The timing is far from ideal for enjoying a milestone like this. “It almost feels like it got spoiled. This year sort of spoiled it because my feelings are always about the team,” Jansen said.
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From failed catcher to elite reliever
His story started a long way from the mound. Signed by the Dodgers in 2004 as a catcher, he was hitting just .227 in Single-A in 2008. It was De Jon Watson, then Los Angeles vice-president of player development, who spotted the strength in his arm and pushed him to switch to pitching in 2009. Coached by Charlie Hough, he made his major league debut on July 24, 2010, against the Mets. His first save came the very next day.
Twelve seasons with the Dodgers, a World Series title in 2020, 10 straight playoff trips, 20 postseason saves: Jansen’s record goes way beyond the 500 mark he is about to reach. “I love this game. I didn’t play for the money. I played for the love of it, right up to today,” he said.
A kind of longevity that’s getting rarer
His manager in Detroit, A.J. Hinch, points out the obvious: modern bullpen usage makes this kind of longevity harder and harder to pull off. Staying dominant for nearly two decades in a role as exposed as closer is close to remarkable in the modern era. Aroldis Chapman, another veteran still going at 38 with 402 saves, could one day follow that path. But every year, the job gets tougher.
The Tigers hold a $12 million option on Jansen for the 2027 season. Now it’s up to him to lock down those final three saves and take his place in the record books for good.
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