SAN DIEGO – Curaçao-born pitcher Kenley Jansen continues to make history in Major League Baseball, recording his 477th career save for the Detroit Tigers in a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.
With the milestone, Jansen strengthens his position as one of the greatest closers in MLB history. He currently ranks fourth on the all-time saves list and holds the highest total among active pitchers. He is now closing in on the all-time record of 652 saves set by Mariano Rivera.
A save is awarded to a pitcher who successfully finishes a game for the winning team, and Jansen once again proved decisive by securing the final outs for Detroit.
The Tigers’ win over San Diego marks their second consecutive victory at the start of the new season. The Padres, who also featured Xander Bogaerts, were unable to overcome Jansen’s late-game performance.
Earlier this month, Jansen also represented the Kingdom team in the World Baseball Classic, underlining his continued importance both internationally and in the MLB.
The Tigers are set to face the Padres again on Saturday as Jansen continues his pursuit of one of baseball’s most iconic records.