While the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen has often been referred to as the club’s Achilles’ heel over the past three seasons, Kenley Jansen has largely been exempt from the criticism.
A former catcher, Jansen’s transition to the bullpen has been successful, even if it was a change he initially fought against.
Jansen converted 25 saves in 2012, then 28 the following year that coincided with replacing Brandon League as the Dodgers’ closer in July 2013.
The hard-throwing right-hander then set a career high with 44 saves in 2014. As the Dodgers shuffled relievers in and out of the bullpen, Jansen and J.P. Howell have been mainstays since 2013.
While Jansen was a holdover from the previous years in the organization, Howell signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers in January 2013.
He remained with the club by signing a two-year contract in December 2013 with a vesting option for a third year. Howell exercised his $6.25 million player option for 2016 last November.
Thus, the left-hander has seen Jansen’s rise to prominence as a closer, which includes ESPN ranking the Curacao native the third-best reliever in the Majors. Howell and Jansen have also forged a strong friendship during their time as teammates.
While Jansen credited Howell for helping him grow mentally, the 32-year-old lefty had a glowing review of Jansen’s talent, via Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider:
“It’s been incredible to watch,” Howell said. “I’ve never seen a pitcher live so dominant. And he did it raw out of the gates. Now he’ fine tuning and getting better and better as it goes.”
Howell believes Jansen is still a pitcher on the rise with more success ahead:
“He’s perfecting his craft right now,” Howell said. “He’s out-talenting guys. He hits his spot most of the time, but he could hit his spots probably more. … Pretty much fine tuning the whole game … the little things (will take him to the next level).”
Howell has appeared in at least 65 games and had a 2.39 ERA or lower over each of his three seasons with the Dodgers. However, after throwing 62 innings in 2013 and battling fatigue down the stretch of the season, Howell tossed 49 and 44 innings, respectively in 2014 and 2015.
With more left-handed relievers in the organization now than over the past few seasons, the Dodgers remain in good position to avoid overlying on Howell.
