The last few years have been tough for new Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen.
The seventh member of the 400 career saves club has turned back the clock in 2023, though. Jansen is dominating once again, pitching as well as he has in years — arguably ever.
He’s not only contributing on the field, either. The 35-year-old is also making his presence known off the field, quickly becoming a key leader in the Red Sox clubhouse.
Six weeks into the 2023 season, Kenley Jansen is anything but an overpay. The Red Sox are benefiting in spades.
Red Sox’ Kenley Jansen Dominating Once Again
Almost everything is better for Kenley Jansen in 2023; it’s not just a few things.
The Curaçao native’s signature cutter is averaging 95 mph, the highest of his career. And he has thrown more pitches at 97 mph or faster in 2023 (11) than he’d thrown from 2017-22 combined (8).
His chase rate (42 percent) is also the best of his career.
The three-time All-Star’s strikeout rate (35 percent), 92 percent left-on-base rate, strikeout-to-walk ratio (29 percent), and strikeout rate on his cutter (36.8 percent) are all bests since 2017.
As for Jansen’s pitch mix, he’s using his cutter 79 percent of the time in 2023, his highest usage rate of the pitch since 2018, and he’s using his slider (11.6 percent) and sinker (9 percent) at the lowest rates since 2018.
Kenley Jansen has regained his dominance as a result.
Jansen had a 0.77 ERA/1.17 FIP/1.91 xERA/611 ERA+ before Friday’s implosion vs. the Cardinals in 11.2 innings with three walks, 17 strikeouts, and only one run allowed.
Opposing batters were hitting .222/.271/.267/.538 against him. Their expected line against Jansen was .183 xBA/.243 xSLG/.217 xwOBA.
Jansen is nine of 11 in save opportunities with the Sox now.
Among relievers, the Red Sox’ closer is tied for third in saves and seventh in strand rate. Jansen is fifth in ERA and FIP, 13th in strikeout rate, and tied-10th in strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Among all MLB pitchers, Jansen is tied-eighth in hard-hit per swing rate, and ninth in xwOBA and xERA. He is tied-12th in xSLG, 17th in xSLG, and also tied-25th in xBA and tied-31st in SLG.
His cutter is good too. Jansen’s cutter is tied-14th in xBA, 14th in xwOBA, and 14th in hard-hit rate.
A Focus on Mind and Body Revived Jansen’s Career
Jansen’s struggles began in 2018 after his second heart surgery for atrial fibrillation. Things worsened in 2019-20, so after 2020, Jansen began seeing a therapist.
Jansen, on what pushed him to seek help, “My wife basically told me, ‘You’re going to see someone.’ That’s when reality hit. All right. You think you’re at your bottom, but let’s try to get this fixed. And look who I am now.”
Jansen said of therapy, “If I (hadn’t) gotten help, I probably wouldn’t — I think I would have gone downhill faster. [… ] I feel better than 25 (years old) and the reason I feel better is that I have this,” he said, pointing to his head.”
Therapy got the 2020 World Series champ good again in 2021-22, but something was missing. So Jansen began working with a basketball trainer this past offseason to regain mobility and flexibility.
Jansen’s renewed mindset has helped him become one of the Red Sox’ most vocal leaders.
Enrique Hernandez praised Kenley Jansen’s leadership, saying, “He’s become a way better leader — and I’m not saying he wasn’t a good leader in LA — but he’s been more of a vocal leader. It’s something we talked about when he came over here, and we needed him to be that and he has stepped into that role beautifully.”
The two-time National League saves leader wasn’t sure Boston was for him. But Kenley Jansen began to see the challenges of being a Red Sox player as a positive.
Jansen said of playing in Boston, “I loved playing in Atlanta, but there wasn’t as much scrutiny there as in Boston. With fewer media around, you could slump in your chair.”
And not to get too far ahead — Kenley Jansen is under contract with the Red Sox through 2024.
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