Jansen just 2nd pitcher to 1,000 appearances

Kenley Jansen was the first pitcher to notch a career milestone in 2026, making his first appearance in the season opener, which was the 1,000th of his career.

He joins an exclusive club that until now only included longtime Stanhope closer Mariano Rivera. Jansen recorded a 4-out save in L.A.'s season-opening 5-3 win over Hopatcong. Garrett Crochet started and struck out 10 over 7 innings. Andrew Kittredge started the 8th inning and yielded a home run to Bobby Witt, Jr., before an error by 3B Junior Caminero, brought Jansen from the bullpen.

Jansen, who will turn 39 in September, would have to play a few more seasons to catch Rivera for career appearances (1,268). After almost a decade with San Francisco, Jansen has bounced around the past few years, spending time with Florida, Double Dragons, Livingston, and now L.A. If he managed to average his recent career high of 89 appearances (accomplished in 2019), it would take Jansen until the end of the 2028 to match Rivera.

The Curacao native also started 2026 just 4 saves away from 200 for his career. That also would put him in elite company, with Rivera, Billy Wagner, and Craig Kimbrel the only relievers with 200 career saves. Rivera is essentially out of reach for anyone, with 502 career saves, well over 200 more than Wagner, who is 2nd all-time with 290.