Jansen climbs the saves list

Kenley Jansen moved into sole possession of third place on Major League Baseball’s career saves list Tuesday night with save No. 479 for the Detroit Tigers. (mlb.com) Jansen got the final three outs in Detroit’s 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on April 14 at Comerica Park, and the victory was the Tigers’ fourth straight. (espn.com) The milestone pushed Jansen past Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith, who finished with 478 saves. Only Mariano Rivera, with 652, and Trevor Hoffman, with 601, remain ahead of him. (apnews.com) A save is awarded to a relief pitcher who finishes a win under specific late-game conditions, usually by protecting a lead of three runs or fewer. Jansen has built that total across 16 major league seasons and is the active career leader in the category. (mlb.com) The climb has continued in his first season with Detroit after he signed a one-year contract in December 2025. The Tigers announced a deal worth $9 million for 2026 with a club option for 2027. (mlb.com) Jansen tied Smith with his 478th save on April 10, then passed him four days later. MLB’s recap said teammates pulled him into the postgame celebration after the record-setting save. (mlb.com) Before he became one of baseball’s top closers, Jansen entered professional baseball as a catcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. A Dodgers coach suggested he try pitching, and that switch eventually turned him into a four-time All-Star reliever. (sports.yahoo.com) He is 38 and still adding to a total that already ranks among the best in the sport’s history. On Tuesday, one clean ninth inning was enough to move his name one spot higher on the list. (baseball-reference.com)