(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
   Kenley Jansen recovering after heart-surgery
Nederlands
 LOS ANGELES, California (USA) -
Kenley Jansen, closer of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is recovering from a heart-surgery he underwent on Monday (November 26) in a hospital in Los Angeles.
The 31-year old Curaçao-born Jansen suffered an atrial fibrillation episode in August when the Dodgers played against Arizona Diamondbacks in Denver.
The fibrillation is the result of a heart condition which leaves Jansen vulnerable to an irregular heartbeat at high altitude.
Denver in Colorado is located at a high altitude, 5280 feet above sea level.
As advised by a cardiologist, Jansen didn't travel with the Dodgers to Denver a following trip in September.
...Kenley Jansen with the Netherlands...
...during the 2017 World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
After the episode in August, Jansen was put on the 10-day Disabled List and was given medication.
He missed several games, but returned to the mound on August 20.
In September, Jansen pitched in 12 games, was 1-0 with an 1.59 ERA and earned five saves.
He struckout 13 batters in 11 1/3 inning.
Overall this season, Jansen appeared in 69 games, striking out 82 batters in 71 2/3 inning.
The righthander was 1-5 with a 3.01 ERA and was credited with 38 saves.
In the World Series against Boston Red Sox, Jansen pitched in three games.
He wasn't that successful, as he was credited with two Blown Saves in two consecutive games.
Boston went on to win the Series.
On Tuesday, Jansen posted a video on Twitter in which he stated: ,,Guys, I'm fine.
The anesthesia is finally out of my system.
I'm doing good.
Enjoying the Christmas spirit.
We'll see you guys soon in 2019, stronger than ever.
Thank you for good thoughts, kind messages and prayers''.
The Los Angeles Dodgers issued the following statement on Monday:
,,Today, Dodger pitcher Kenley Jansen underwent an ablation procedure with Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee in Los Angeles.
The procedure went as expected and Jansen is resting comfortably in the hospital.
The club anticipates Jansen will be ready for Spring Training and available on Opening Day."
Jansen earlier had the same problems.
After the 2012 season, Jansen also underwent a similar catheter ablation in the left atrium of his heart to cauterize the area.
Catheter ablation is a procedure used to remove or terminate a faulty electrical pathway from sections of the hearts of those who are prone to developing cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.
It takes about eight weeks to recover and Jansen expects he will be back in time for Spring Training, which opens at the end of February.
Jansen pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2010.
In nine Major League-seasons, Jansen threw in 543 games.
He is 25-18 and earned 268 saves.
In 548 2/3 inning, Jansen struckout 823 batters.
With his 268 saves, Jansen is the career-recordholder of the Dodgers.
Second on the list is Eric Gagne, who earned 161 saves while playing for the Dodgers in 1999-2006.
In 2013 and 2017, Jansen was on the roster of the Netherlands Team during the Final Round of the World Baseball Classic.
In 2013, he didn't pitch in the Semi-Final, but in 2017, Jansen pitched for the Orange squad in the Semi-Final in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Jansen also played for the Netherlands in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, but then he was a catcher.
Later in 2009, Jansen again played for the Netherlands during the World Championship in the Netherlands and Italy, but then as a pitcher.
(November 27)
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