Dodgers’ Jansen works scoreless inning in 1st spring outing

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This article was published 03/03/2019 (2754 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Kenley Jansen’s numbers are down, but in a good way.

His fastball velocity has dipped for now, but he figures it will return. And besides, he said, “The radar gun is overrated.”

The most important figure is 25 — the number of pounds the Los Angeles Dodgers closer lost in the off-season — which he says is why he feels like he’s in better shape overall.

Jansen pitched his first Cactus League inning on Sunday, retiring the Texas Rangers on 12 pitches.

Jansen threw 10 strikes, getting one strikeout, and pitched around an error. His fastball topped out at 92 mph, about 3 mph slower than his usual high.

“The normal me in spring training,” Jansen said. “Sometimes the radar gun can get you in trouble. I learned my lesson last year. I wasn’t ready. Next thing you know, the ball didn’t have life (out of my hand).”

Jansen said he’s focusing more on his legs, and “not trying to muscle the ball.” He credited pitching coach Rick Honeycutt for the change in philosophy.

“He’s the best. He makes it so much easier for us,” Jansen said.

Jansen had surgery in November to correct an irregular heartbeat that sidelined him last August before he returned late in the season. He had a similar procedure in 2012.

Now 31, he decided to shed some weight because of the heart problem and his career-high 3.01 ERA. Since joining the Dodgers in 2010, his ERA is 2.20.

“I feel great. I’m proud of myself. I want to play this game for a long time,” Jansen said. “I had a great off-season, working out, losing all this weight. It paid off today.”

Manager Dave Roberts said Jansen will next work in a game on Wednesday. Jansen doesn’t expect this spring to be much different than his usual approach to getting ready.

“I usually try to get 8-10 innings,” he said.

NOTES: Roberts said SS Corey Seager is doing well in his continued rehab from elbow and hip surgery that caused him to miss the 2018 season. “Right now, he’s in as good a spot as we could have hoped,” the manager said. Seager, the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year, played in an intrasquad game, getting four at-bats. He also took some ground balls and ran the bases. … Clayton Kershaw played catch on Sunday, “ramping up the intensity,” Roberts said. The manager said the Dodgers ace is back on track after cutting a workout short early last week with left shoulder discomfort. … Walker Buehler had his first bullpen session on Sunday as the Dodgers continue to carefully monitor his workload. The right-hander, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015, threw 160 innings as a rookie last year between the regular season and his start in Game 3 of the World Series.

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