Kenley Jansen of the Los Angeles was named recipient of the Trevor Hoffman Award for the best reliever in the National League. He collected a career high 47 saves with an ERA of 1.83 during the 2016 season in Major League Baseball. Zach Britton of the Baltimore Orioles won the award in the American League named after Mariano Rivera.
The 29-year-old Dutch right-hander Jansen is becoming a free agent with the conclusion of the World Series and it’s not a sure thing that he is returning to the Dodgers. He signed with the organization based in Chavez Ravine as an amateur free agent in 2004. Following the 2009 World Baseball Classic he converted from catcher to pitcher and skyrocketed through the Dodgers farm system. He made his MLB debut in 2010 and since then has had 189 saves with an ERA of 2.20 in 409 games. He has struck out 632 batters and walked 119 in 408 2/3 innings.
During this year’s campaign Jansen led all pitchers in the big leagues with a 0.67 WHIP for the fewest allowed base runners in the league. He established new Dodgers franchise records with 189 saves surpassing the previous mark of 161 by Eric Gagne and 632 strikeouts as a reliever passing Jim Brewer’s 604.