Former Dodgers Closer Kenley Jansen Believed He’d Be a ‘Dodger for Life’

Kenleyfornia will live on in Dodgers lore forever.

Even if recent history would indicate that Dodgers fans grew irate with his pitching toward the end of his LA tenure, what former lockdown closer Kenley Jansen did for the Boys in Blue remains an unprecedented achievement. 

Becoming the franchise's leader in saves with 350 in his time at Chavez Ravine, the current Boston reliever reflected on his time with the team and wished he could've spent his entire career in Dodger blue. 

“I’m not going to lie about that. Yeah, for sure,” Jansen told MassLive on Tuesday. “I thought guys like me and Kersh (Clayton Kershaw) for sure would be playing in one uniform. But yeah, it didn’t happen.”...“I love all my guys over there,” Jansen said. “They will forever be my brothers. I love every single one of them. It’s just business. If they really wanted me, they probably would have paid me. I can’t be waiting for one team and a good opportunity passes by. So I did what’s best for my family.” 

via Christopher Smith, MassLive

Working with a devastating cutter like Mariano Rivera before him, Jansen made a name for himself as a high leverage bullpen option for nearly a decade in Southern California. 

Pitching in three World Series for the franchise and winning it all in 2020, Jansen's big game performances for a majority of his time with LA cannot be ignored. 

Peaking in 2017, Jansen received MVP and Cy Young votes with a 1.32 ERA, a K rate of 14.4 per 9 innings and racking up 41 saves along the way. 

Though the Dodgers would fall in the World Series against the infamous 2017 Houston Astros, Jansen's time with the team after starting his career as a catcher has been nothing short of impressive. 

Despite not having the chance to complete his career in Dodger blue, Jansen will always be a Dodger at heart with his great stint with the organization.