Tigers' Jansen records 478th career save, moves into 3rd in MLB history

Veteran closer Kenley Jansen reaches major milestone in win over Marlins

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:01am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with vibrant colors representing the uniforms of the Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins.Kenley Jansen's historic save highlights the Tigers' hard-fought victory over the Marlins.Today in Miami

Detroit Tigers veteran closer Kenley Jansen recorded his 478th career save on Friday night, tying him for third place on the all-time MLB saves list. Jansen shut down the Miami Marlins in the 9th inning to preserve a 2-0 victory for the Tigers, who snapped a 5-game losing streak.

Why it matters

Jansen's milestone save is a significant achievement, cementing his status as one of the greatest relief pitchers of his era. The Tigers' win also halts their recent skid, providing a much-needed boost as they look to climb back into playoff contention in the American League.

The details

In the 9th inning, Jansen struck out one batter and retired the Marlins in order to record his 478th career save. This ties him with Hall of Famer John Franco for 3rd place on the all-time MLB saves list, behind only Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601). Jansen's dominant performance helped preserve a 2-0 victory for the Tigers, with Javier Baez providing the offense with a solo home run.

  • Jansen recorded his 478th career save on Friday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Kenley Jansen

A veteran relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and one of the most dominant closers in MLB history.

Javier Baez

An All-Star infielder for the Detroit Tigers who hit a solo home run in the team's 2-0 victory over the Marlins.

Miami Marlins

The opposing team that was shut down by Jansen in the 9th inning.

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What they’re saying

“Kenley has been a rock for us all season. To see him reach this historic milestone is a testament to his incredible consistency and dominance over the years.”

— A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers Manager

What’s next

Jansen will look to continue his climb up the all-time saves list as the Tigers continue their series against the Marlins this weekend.

The takeaway

Jansen's 478th career save cements his status as one of the greatest closers in MLB history, and his performance helped the Tigers snap out of their recent slump. The veteran reliever's consistency and dominance over the years make him a key part of Detroit's push for the playoffs.