Kenley Jansen is one of the most accomplished relievers in Major League Baseball history, yet he still feels like he has a lot more to give to the game.
Jansen, 38, signed with the Detroit Tigers this past offseason on a one-year deal worth $11 million. Ranked fourth all-time in saves, Jansen is 24 away from 500, but he isn’t playing just to chase numbers. Entering his 17th MLB season, he’s recorded 1,278 strikeouts, ranking fifth all-time among relievers.
Jansen was born in Willemstad, Curaçao, a Caribbean colony that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This could be his final time playing in a World Baseball Classic for the Netherlands, having played with them in 2009 and 2017 previously. Jansen was a reliever in the 2017 WBC and a catcher in the 2009 WBC. He is the only player in the history of the WBC to catch and pitch on the same team.
In the second half of the 2009 season, he made the conversion from catcher to reliever, and a year later, he made his Major League debut out of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen.
Jansen is fired up for the chance to pitch for the Netherlands and play for his boyhood idol, Andruw Jones, who will manage the team.
“I’ve known Andruw for a while. It’s awesome to be able to play for him, and especially for me, it’s an honor. We looked up to him growing up, and now, he’s our manager,” Jansen told World Baseball Network at the Detroit Tigers spring training facilities on Feb. 21.
Jansen referenced his parents growing up as Braves fans. Jansen’s brother was also signed by the Braves and played in their minor league system for several years. Kenley Jansen was in the Dodgers’ minor league system when Jones was a Dodger in 2008.
“That’s such a big deal. Growing up, being in Curaçao, born and raised, [I was] a Braves fan before Andruw Jones, because my parents were Braves fans. The next thing you know, Andruw Jones got to the bigs… he hit those two homers in (Game 1) of the (1996) World Series, that made us really believe, man. And that was awesome. From there, we all wanted to be like Andruw Jones,” Jansen said.
He added his sincere gratitude to the Netherlands for giving him the WBC opportunities.
“It’s just a big thank you to the Netherlands for letting me participate one more time, because that’s when the journey really started as a catcher. And doing all the sensational plays, and next thing you know, because of my arm, they put me on the mound, and here I am,” Jansen said.
Jansen will try to help the Netherlands advance out of a difficult Pool D in the WBC that will have the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Israel as their competition at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Photo: Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenley Jansen speaks during workouts at spring training baseball, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Lakeland. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
