Kenley Jansen wasn’t pleased with his outing Tuesday night but nonetheless has converted each of his three save opportunities this season. He recorded back-to-back saves against the San Francisco Giants, but now an entirely new challenge sits in front of the 31-year-old.
After going 5-2 on their homestand to open the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers depart for a seven-game road trip with series against the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals. Friday’s series opener at Coors Field marks the Rockies’ first home game of the year.
More pressing, however, is the weekend series will be Jansen’s first visit to Colorado since he suffered an irregular heartbeat last August. It was a second time Jansen experienced such a health scare that eventually required a surgery.
He did not join the Dodgers for their series in Denver last September. Ahead of the team making the first of two trips to high altitude this season, Jansen said he is looking forward to conquering the challenge, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“Excited, also a little nerve-racking, going back there and having that in the back of your mind,” Jansen said. “It’s a mixed feeling right now, but I think we’re well prepared.”
“I talked to the doctor last week,” Jansen said. “He’s excited about it. He’s confident in his work. He wanted me this offseason to go work out in Denver, that’s how confident he was. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Jansen underwent a 5.5-hour procedure last November that he said cleared his mind of any concern moving forward. He previously had a catheter ablation in the left atrium of his heart after the 2012 season.
Jansen additionally changed his diet during the offseason, citing health concerns and putting himself in better position to avoid heart trouble in the years ahead.
