Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Throws live batting practice
Rotowire
Jansen (illness) threw 17 pitches to live hitters Thursday in Red Sox camp, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.
Jansen missed a scheduled Grapefruit League appearance earlier this week because he wasn't feeling well, but he's scheduled to return to exhibition action Saturday and could join Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic if they advance out of their group. The veteran reliever is slated to serve as Boston's primary closer in 2023.
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Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Could join WBC in quarterfinals
Rotowire
Jansen is expected to join Team Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic if the club advances, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Jansen is still in spring training with Boston and just made his spring debut with the Red Sox on Monday. The long-time closer will remain in Florida as an option for the Grapefruit League, but he could be a late-inning option in the WBC if Team Netherlands advances. Jansen is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he recorded 41 saves along with a 3.38 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 64 innings in 65 appearances.
Jansen pitched a scoreless inning in Saturday's spring game against the Astros.
Jansen made quick work of the Astros in his Grapefruit League debut, setting down the side in order. Most notably, he easily beat the pitch clock on all 14 of his pitches, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Jansen is notorious for his slow pace, averaging 25.6 seconds between pitches with the bases empty and 31.4 seconds with runners on last season. He vowed the new pitch clock would not be an issue for him, saying he's been working on it since December. The right-hander noted that his slow pace was a product of the environment and throwing in high-pressurized situations. The real test for Boston's closer comes during the regular season when those high-pressure situations become the norm.
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Throws bullpen with timer
Rotowire
Jansen threw a bullpen session Sunday and was on time in his delivery, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Jansen is one of the slowest pitchers in the league, so he'll have to adjust to the new rule that pitchers must begin their delivery within 15 seconds with the bases empty (20 second with runners on). He had the third slowest tempo (25.6 seconds) between pitches last year.
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Behind due to offseason illness
Rotowire
Jansen is a bit behind in Red Sox camp due to an offseason illness, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Jansen had to put a pause on his winter workouts because he and his family got sick. However, there's plenty of time for the veteran reliever to play catch-up and be at or near 100 percent come Opening Day. He inked a two-year, $32 million free-agent contract with Boston in December and projects to serve as the club's primary closer in 2023.
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Contract with Boston official
Rotowire
Jansen's two-year, $32 million contract with the Red Sox was formally announced by the team Tuesday.
The deal was first reported last week and Jansen was officially introduced at a press conference Tuesday. The longtime closer will slide into the ninth inning for Boston, with the hope that he'll provide more stability than the club had in 2022.
