Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is having one of the best seasons ever for a reliever, as he set a Major League record by striking out 51 batters to begin the season without issuing a walk.
Coming off a dominant postseason, Jansen has proven to be worth every penny of the five-year, $80 million contract he signed to remain with the Dodgers during the offseason. He rejected a more lucrative offer from the Washington Nationals and interest from the Miami Marlins.
Re-signing Jansen was part of the Dodgers’ moves to return much of the same core from last year’s team that finished two wins why of reaching the World Series.