A change in offseason workouts helped put Kenley Jansen on the right path
By: Rowan Kavner
Tags: MLB, Dodgers, Features, Workouts, Kenley Jansen

When teams reconvened for Summer Camp, Jansen’s start was delayed after a bout with COVID-19. There were times during the season he felt tired, as if the symptoms were returning, but he didn’t want to make excuses for his performance. Last year, most pitchers still would have taken Jansen’s 3–1 record, 3.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings. But he expected more from himself. He allowed five runs (four earned) in seven postseason innings, going 2-for-3 in save opportunities. Julio Urías secured the final outs of the Dodgers’ World Series — which Jansen understood, given the way Urías was performing. But the dips and fluctuations in Jansen’s velocity and command left him frustrated and looking for answers.

Robinson tried to provide positive support: “I have to keep reminding him, ‘Bro, you know who you are.’ A lot of people, we’re human. We forget.”

Two days after the Dodgers finished off their championship, Jansen began an updated offseason workout program under McDaniel’s direction.

The 33-year-old closer ditched heavy strength training in favor of quickness and speed. McDaniel could tell the 2020 season motivated Jansen, who was receptive to the changes the strength staff had in mind.

“I think at that point he had just kind of thrown his hands up and said, ‘Dude, I’ll do whatever,’” McDaniel says. “It wasn’t like we hadn’t talked about it before, but it’s tough when it’s going well to change something.”

Most years, Jansen would start riding his bike and doing deadlifts immediately after the season ended. McDaniel told him to wait until he arrived. He had a new plan.

Weighted-ball workouts were out. Quick-twitch, athletic movements were in. Jansen incorporated more long toss into his routine. Robinson, who’s now playing in the independent Atlantic League, continued to help where he could, providing feedback at the plate and serving as a throwing partner.

“Long toss I feel like was huge for both of us,” Robinson says. “We went to a football field and just started throwing, like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.”

Jansen ditched his heavy strength training program. Instead of picking up 500 pounds off the floor during his workouts, it was 275 to 315. What mattered most to McDaniel is that Jansen moved the weight quickly.

“He lost almost 20 pounds from what we were doing and just changing the fact we were trying to train faster,” McDaniel says. “We were still squatting, but we were squatting for speed. We were still deadlifting, but we were deadlifting for speed. We were still doing all the same moves we used to do, but we were getting more range of motion out of it and emphasizing how fast you can move.”

As McDaniel considered the workout changes he wanted to make ahead of the 2021 season, he kept in close contact with the Dodger pitching coaches, manager Dave Roberts and the Dodger front office to make sure everyone was on board. Of course, Jansen had to be, too.

Jansen didn’t return home to Curacao. He trained all offseason in Los Angeles, frequently visiting a track near his house to add more running into his routine. The better shape he was in, the more he could repeat his delivery.

“I wanted to be right,” Jansen says. “I didn’t miss even one day. Continued his program and the process, and like I said, I just give it a try. It’s paying off right now, big time.”