{"id":118546,"date":"2026-04-10T21:39:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T01:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=118546"},"modified":"2026-04-10T21:50:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T01:50:38","slug":"breaking-down-hall-of-fame-cases-for-jansen-kimbrel-and-chapman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/10\/breaking-down-hall-of-fame-cases-for-jansen-kimbrel-and-chapman\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Down Hall of Fame Cases for Jansen, Kimbrel, and Chapman"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"447\" data-end=\"643\"><strong data-start=\"600\" data-end=\"640\"><span>On April 10, 2026, <\/span><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Kenley Jansen<\/span><\/span><span> added another milestone to a remarkable career, tying <\/span><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Lee Smith<\/span><\/span><span> for <\/span>third on the MLB all-time saves list<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"645\" data-end=\"788\">It\u2019s a moment that doesn\u2019t just celebrate longevity\u2014it reignites a bigger conversation: Which modern closers are truly Hall of Fame worthy?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"790\" data-end=\"1007\">With Jansen climbing into elite territory, and both <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Craig Kimbrel<\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Aroldis Chapman<\/span><\/span> still active names in the saves leaderboard, the debate has never been more relevant.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1009\" data-end=\"1029\">Let\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"m47gkd\" data-start=\"1036\" data-end=\"1101\">Kenley Jansen: A Top-Three Closer\u2014and a Near Hall of Fame Lock<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1103\" data-end=\"1173\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/j\/janseke01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jansen<\/a>\u2019s case starts with one undeniable fact: history favors him.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1175\" data-end=\"1344\">Tying for third all-time in saves places him in one of the most exclusive groups in baseball. Closers who reach that level typically don\u2019t wait long for Cooperstown.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1396\">But Jansen\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 goes deeper than just numbers.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1398\" data-end=\"1446\">Over more than a decade, he has been defined by:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1447\" data-end=\"1601\">\n<li data-section-id=\"10k1uju\" data-start=\"1447\" data-end=\"1516\">Elite command and one of the most dominant cutters in MLB history<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"8j3gzt\" data-start=\"1517\" data-end=\"1555\">Consistent sub-3.00 ERA production<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"zmnvg8\" data-start=\"1556\" data-end=\"1601\">A rare blend of durability and efficiency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1603\" data-end=\"1772\">Unlike many closers who pile up saves through volume, Jansen has paired quantity with quality, boasting one of the best strikeout-to-walk ratios ever for a reliever.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1774\" data-end=\"1895\">There have been <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2016\/12\/12\/kenley-jansen-sign\/\" target=\"_self\">occasional postseason hiccups<\/a>, but they\u2019re not enough to overshadow his consistency across multiple eras.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1897\" data-end=\"2037\"><strong data-start=\"1897\" data-end=\"1913\">Bottom line:<\/strong><br data-start=\"1913\" data-end=\"1916\" \/>Jansen will finish his career in the top three\u2014pushing closer to 500 saves\u2014he\u2019s not just a candidate.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2039\" data-end=\"2071\">He\u2019s a likely Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"wpmbx2\" data-start=\"2078\" data-end=\"2137\">Craig Kimbrel: Dominant Peak Meets Late-Career Questions<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_57261\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57261\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/12\/Craig-Kimbrel-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-57261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/12\/Craig-Kimbrel-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/12\/Craig-Kimbrel-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/12\/Craig-Kimbrel.jpg 612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-57261\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">PHOENIX, ARIZONA &#8211; SEPTEMBER 14: Pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes the sign in the 10th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 14, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"2139\" data-end=\"2229\">If Jansen\u2019s case is about consistency, Kimbrel\u2019s is about sheer dominance at his peak.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2231\" data-end=\"2407\">From 2011 to 2014, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kimbrcr01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kimbrel<\/a> was arguably the most unhittable closer in baseball. His combination of velocity and strikeout ability made him nearly automatic in the ninth inning.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2409\" data-end=\"2493\">Now sitting <strong data-start=\"2421\" data-end=\"2448\">f<\/strong>ifth all-time in saves, Kimbrel checks multiple Hall of Fame boxes:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2494\" data-end=\"2599\">\n<li data-section-id=\"19zc20j\" data-start=\"2494\" data-end=\"2522\">Massive strikeout totals<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"f0uw9f\" data-start=\"2523\" data-end=\"2555\">Multiple All-Star selections<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"39sjgc\" data-start=\"2556\" data-end=\"2599\">Cy Young consideration during his prime<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2601\" data-end=\"2766\">However, his career hasn\u2019t been as smooth in recent years. Periods of inconsistency and declining command have slightly dimmed what once looked like a surefire case.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2768\" data-end=\"2926\">That said, history offers a blueprint. Closers with a similar profile\u2014elite peak + strong counting stats\u2014have eventually found their way into Cooperstown.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2928\" data-end=\"3104\"><strong data-start=\"2928\" data-end=\"2944\">Bottom line:<\/strong><br data-start=\"2944\" data-end=\"2947\" \/>Kimbrel isn\u2019t a lock, but he\u2019s in strong position. He may not be a first-ballot selection, but over time, his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 should carry him across the finish line.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"6qcdr\" data-start=\"3111\" data-end=\"3161\">Aroldis Chapman: Electric Arm, Complicated Case<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_107948\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-107948\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-107948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27214801-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-107948\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sep 30, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) relief pitcher throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"3163\" data-end=\"3233\">Few pitchers in baseball history have been as electrifying as <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chapmar01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chapman<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3235\" data-end=\"3392\">At his peak, he wasn\u2019t just dominant\u2014he was revolutionary, routinely hitting 103\u2013105 mph and redefining what velocity could look like in the modern game.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3394\" data-end=\"3414\">His r\u00e9sum\u00e9 includes:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3415\" data-end=\"3560\">\n<li data-section-id=\"96oxan\" data-start=\"3415\" data-end=\"3460\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/04\/28\/craig-kimbrel-saves-milestone\/\" target=\"_self\">A place in the top 5 all-time saves list<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"gshl3h\" data-start=\"3461\" data-end=\"3494\">Multiple All-Star appearances<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"1h65t5d\" data-start=\"3495\" data-end=\"3560\">A key role in the 2016 championship run with the Chicago Cubs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3562\" data-end=\"3636\">But when it comes to the Hall of Fame, Chapman\u2019s case is more complicated.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3638\" data-end=\"3879\">Unlike Jansen and Kimbrel, he hasn\u2019t consistently combined elite performance with longevity at the same level. There have been stretches of inconsistency, and his overall save total lags behind the typical Hall of Fame benchmark for closers.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3964\">Off-field considerations may also play a role in how voters evaluate his candidacy.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3966\" data-end=\"4143\"><strong data-start=\"3966\" data-end=\"3982\">Bottom line:<\/strong><br data-start=\"3982\" data-end=\"3985\" \/>Chapman has the \u201cfame\u201d and historical impact, but his statistical case falls short\u2014for now. Without a late-career surge, he remains on the outside looking in.<\/p>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"er6ugn\" data-start=\"4150\" data-end=\"4200\">The Verdict: Ranking Their Hall of Fame Chances<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4202\" data-end=\"4274\">As the saves leaderboard evolves, so does the Hall of Fame conversation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4276\" data-end=\"4306\">Here\u2019s how the three stack up:<\/p>\n<ol data-start=\"4308\" data-end=\"4510\">\n<li data-section-id=\"1dv57de\" data-start=\"4308\" data-end=\"4371\"><strong data-start=\"4311\" data-end=\"4328\">Kenley Jansen<\/strong> \u2014 Near lock if he holds top-three status<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"1be2pjm\" data-start=\"4372\" data-end=\"4436\"><strong data-start=\"4375\" data-end=\"4392\">Craig Kimbrel<\/strong> \u2014 Likely Hall of Famer, but may take time<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"sqyck1\" data-start=\"4437\" data-end=\"4510\"><strong data-start=\"4440\" data-end=\"4459\">Aroldis Chapman<\/strong> \u2014 Borderline candidate needing to continue <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?s=chapman\" target=\"_self\">strong later years<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"j78w92\" data-start=\"4517\" data-end=\"4569\">Why Saves Still Matter in the Hall of Fame Debate<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4571\" data-end=\"4750\">Closers face one of the toughest paths to Cooperstown. Despite the importance of the role, only a select few have made it in\u2014making milestones like Jansen\u2019s even more significant.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4752\" data-end=\"4969\">In today\u2019s game, where bullpen roles are evolving, traditional closers may become even rarer. That makes this current generation\u2014Jansen, Kimbrel, and Chapman\u2014one of the last true groups to define the modern saves era.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4971\" data-end=\"5066\">And now, with Jansen officially tied for No. 3 all-time, the question isn\u2019t just about history.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5068\" data-end=\"5086\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">It\u2019s about legacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On April 10, 2026, Kenley Jansen added another milestone to a remarkable career, tying Lee Smith for third on the MLB all-time saves list. It\u2019s a moment that doesn\u2019t just celebrate longevity\u2014it reignites a bigger conversation: Which modern closers are truly Hall of Fame worthy? With Jansen climbing into elite territory, and both Craig Kimbrel [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5710,"featured_media":103809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"773","footnotes":""},"categories":[1071,4454,2],"tags":[209,792,2174,1834,323,432,941,69],"class_list":["post-118546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","category-baseball-history","category-featured","tag-aroldis-chapman","tag-baseball-hall-of-fame","tag-closer","tag-cooperstown","tag-craig-kimbrel","tag-kenley-jansen","tag-latest-mlb-news","tag-mlb"],"modified_by":"Eddie Lennon, Staff Writer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5710"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118546"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":118548,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118546\/revisions\/118548"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}