Press Release World Baseball Classic, Inc.
Right-Handed Reliever Set To Join Dutch Team In San Francisco
Phoenix, AZ – Team Kingdom of the Netherlands announced today the addition of right-handed pitcher Kenley Jansen to its World Baseball Classic roster for play during the Championship Round at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. Jansen replaces pitcher Jonatan Isenia, who has a strained right elbow.
Jansen, 25, was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on Nov. 17, 2004. In 2012 with Dodgers, he posted a 5-3 record with 25 saves and a 2.35 ERA (65 IP – 17 ER) in 65 games. Jansen owns an 8-4 career record with 34 saves and a 2.22 ERA (145.2 IP – 36 ER) in 141 games. He has walked 63 batters and struck out 236 in his career.
Since the start of the 2010 season, Jansen ranks among Major League leaders (min. 125 IP) in ERA (.222; 7th), opponents’ batting average (.148; 1st) and opponents’ slugging percentage (.237; 3rd). His strikeouts per 9.0 innings is 14.58, the second highest mark all-time among pitchers with 125 career innings (Craig Kimbrel; 15.89). Jansen set a new single-season Major League record in 2011 striking out 16.1 batters per 9.0 innings pitched (53.2 IP – 96 SO).
Jansen appeared as a catcher for Team Netherlands in the 2009 WBC, finishing 1-for-13 with a walk in five games played. He converted to pitcher during the 2009 season at Single-A Inland Empire.
A native of Willemstad, Curacao, Jansen is expected to join Team Netherlands in San Francisco. He is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two appearances this far in Spring Training (2 IP, 2 BB, 1 SO).