Dutch International Star Kenley Jansen third on MLB all-time saves list
The Kingdom of the Netherlands star reliever Kenley Jansen became the third pitcher on the all-time Major League Baseball (MLB) saves list on April 14, 2026, when he pitched a scoreless ninth to seal a 2-1 Detroit Tigers win against the Kansas City Royals. It marked his 479th save, surpassing Hall of Famer Lee Smith.
Jansen picked up the save in another 2-1 win the next day against the Royals, and added No. 481 on April 18 in Boston, when the Tigers defeated the Red Sox, 4-1.
The No. 1 and No.2 pitchers on the all-time saves list are both Hall of Famers and have surpassed the 600 milestone.
The leader is Mariano Rivera, who retired after the 2013 season after spending his whole career with the New York Yankees, with 652. Trevor Hoffman, who retired after the 2010 season after spending most of his career with the San Diego Padres, follows with 601.
The only other active player with 400+ saves is Craig Kimbrel of the Chicago White Sox (440).
Born in 1987 in Willemstad, Curaçao, Jansen signed for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a catcher in November 2004. The Dodgers assigned him the their Rookie League team, where he played well enough to earn a promotion to Single-A.
A catcher with a formidable arm, Jansen struggled at the plate. The Kingdom of the Netherlands selected him as their starting catcher for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In the following season, he played as high as Triple-A for the Dodgers before transitioning to the mound.
Jansen impressed at Double-A, and the Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster for the 2010 season. On July 23, 2010, Jansen made his MLB debut. He became the Dodgers' closer in 2012, when he converted 25 of 32 save opportunities. He would retain the role through the 2021 season. He pitched for the Atlanta Braves in 2022, the Boston Red Sox in 2023 and 2024, he was back in Los Angeles for the 2025 season and moved to Detroit in 2026.
Cover photo: MLB Photos by Getty Images