#8
of 20
Kenley Jansen
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Kenley Jansen has been one of the most dominant closers of the 21st century. He surpassed 400 career saves while maintaining elite strikeout numbers during his prime. From 2011 through 2017, he was arguably baseball’s best closer. His 2017 season included a 1.32 ERA with 109 strikeouts and only seven walks. Jansen’s cutter-heavy approach drew comparisons to Rivera. His career ERA+ ranks among the best of modern closers. He delivered in high-pressure postseason situations despite a few setbacks. His consistency across more than a decade stands out. Sustained excellence secures his place inside the top ten.
Career Numbers
58-46
W-L
2.60
ERA
1,329
K
972.1
IP
498
SV
Kenley Jansen at No. 8
Kenley Jansen is ranked 8 of 20 on the Top 20 Closers of All Time in History of MLB Baseball list. The career card for Kenley Jansen shows a 58-46 record, a 2.60 ERA and 1,329 strikeouts. It also counts 498 saves. Kenley Jansen debuted in the 2010s, and the Explore links below open that decade's page and the list of players born in Curaçao. Lee Smith is ranked just above at 7 while Craig Kimbrel follows at 9. The ranking and the write-up above it are the list's editorial judgment; the career numbers come from the same tables as the player pages.