It was 20 years ago when the Toronto Blue Jays selected Casey Janssen out of UCLA in the fourth round of the 2004 MLB Draft. When an injury to A.J. Burnett created an opening in the Blue Jays rotation, Janssen got the promotion an made his MLB debut 18 years ago today. Janssen won his first two games against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing fewer than three hits over seven innings each.
#OTD 18 years ago, right-hander Casey Janssen made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He started against the Baltimore Orioles and allowed two earned runs in four innings in the Blue Jays’ eventual 7-5 loss at Rogers Centre.#BlueJays pic.twitter.com/UpiZtC32kH
— Kevin Glew (@coopincanada) April 27, 2024
Casey Janssen Made His MLB Debut 18 Years Ago Today
Janssen spent most of his career with the Blue Jays, posting a record of 31-29 and a 3.63 ERA. The right-hander put up 90 saves, pitched 533 innings, and 395 strikeouts. His best season was in 2006 when he posted a 6-0 record with a 2.26 ERA. Janssen went on in his career to take on a leadership role within the bullpen. Casey Janssen may not have been the best closer of all time. Overall, he wasn’t a pitcher who was known for throwing a 100 MPH fastball. For example, like Aroldis Chapman. He wasn’t a pitcher who propelled strikeouts like Craig Kimbrel. But Janssen was still a dominant pitcher. Janssen was equipped with a cut fastball. Very different from the most dominant closer from the New York Yankees none other than Mariano Rivera.
How Janssen Dominated in the Majors
With the vertical motion of his cutter pitch, it practically resembled a similarity of a curveball versus a cutter. This made the pitch more challenging for hitters to tackle. Casey also located his four-seam fastball extremely well. Janssen’s pitches didn’t prompt hitters to swing at strikes. Instead, his ability to locate was what he focused on. And this is what made him successful as a closer. Usually, Casey racked up his strikeouts with hitters looking at strikes versus hitters swinging at them. This was his secret weapon and strongest asset as a closer.
Janssen’s ability to identify the control of his pitches was so strong that he barely surrendered walks. Evidently, he faced 47 batters in 2013 and didn’t walk any of them. The season prior, Janssen walked only 11 in 63 2/3 innings of work and faced 242 batters. In the 2012 season, if the Blue Jays needed a pitcher to put zeros up, Janssen was their man. Returning to May 9th of 2012, he allowed only one run in all 32 save opportunities.
His Tenure in Toronto
Janssen represented himself as a standout, unique pitcher for the Blue Jays. His capability to strike out hitters without them swinging was impressive. He eventually moved from the rotation to the bullpen, performing very well as the club’s set-up man as he established himself as one of the best in the bullpen and the American League. Janssen missed the entire 2008 seasonIn the final three years in Toronto, Janssen compiled 81 saves with a 2.94 ERA in 168 games.
Janssen had a strong season in 2011, going 6-0 with a career-best 2.26 ERA in 55 appearances. The following season, he signed a two-year extension with the Blue Jays. Janssen opened the 2013 season with 12 consecutive saves before blowing his first of the season in June. Janssen began the 2014 season with a back strain. Although he would struggle after the All-Star break, Janssen was the closer for Toronto for the rest of the season.
Janssen was plenty of fun to watch when he was in the majors. His ability to fool hitters and make them guess at the plate without allowing them to swing was monumental. He will always be remembered as a closer and pitcher for the Blue Jays, who completed his task as a closer. He was not comparable to other closers, which made him versatile.
Main Photo: © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
