Kenley Jansen, closing in on rare MLB milestone, reflects on career of saves and the loss that stays with him - CBS Sports

Kenley Jansen is approaching the rarest milestone for closers: 500 saves. The 38-year-old Detroit Tigers reliever sits at 497 after a career that spans 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, then stints with the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and the Tigers. Speaking at Progressive Field during Cleveland’s National Air Show, Jansen said the milestone feels like a dream, emphasizing that saves reflect both dominance and longevity through shifting eras and physical challenges. With Detroit’s season ending this weekend, he would need a save in every game versus the Pirates—an unlikely scenario given he has 21 saves this year—to reach 500. He also reflected on a loss that still hurts: his mother.