Top Blue Jays Player #37: Casey
Janssen
Position: Relief
Pitcher
Seasons With the
Jays: 8 (2006-07, 2009-14)
Stats: Games Pitched 389 Innings Pitched 493
Wins/Losses 29-24 Saves
90
ERA 3.52 Strike
outs 368
Games Started 22 Games
Finished 187
Complete Games 0 Shutouts 0
Casey Janssen was originally
drafted in the 47th round in 2003 by the Baltimore Orioles but did
not sign with the team. He was draft eligible the following year and was
selected by the Jays in the 4th round. He made his Major League
debut in 2006 as a starting pitcher. In 17 starts that season he had a win/loss
record of 6-10 with a 5.07 ERA. Not very impressive for a starting pitcher.
In 2007 he was moved to the
bullpen, primarily as a middle reliever and set-up man and pitched in 70 games.
In 72 2/3 innings of work, he won two games and struck out 39 batters while
managing to pick up six saves. He also lowered his ERA to 2.35
But an arm injury put an end to
his 2008 season before it even started. A torn labrum kept him out of action
for the entire season. He was expected to be ready for the start of the 2009
season, but he wasn’t able to pitch until the end of May. Further injuries
reduced his playing time and he only pitched in 21 games in 2009, posting one
save and a 2-4 win/loss record and an ERA of 5.85.
In 2010 and 2011, he returned to
form as a middle reliever. In 2010, he pitched in 56 games, posting a 5-2
record and a 3.67 ERA while in 2011, he sported a 6-0 record and a brilliant
2.26 ERA.
Finally, in 2012, Janssen took
on the closer’s role with the Blue Jays and flourished for the next three
seasons. Over that time, he saved 22 games in 2012, 34 in 2013 and 25 in 2014.
While posting respectable ERAs in the first of those three seasons (2.54 and
2.56) his average ballooned to 3.94 in 2014 and he wasn’t as dominant a closer
in the final year, blowing a fair number of saves and, generally, struggling
after the All-Star break.
He was granted free agency
following the 2014 season and signed with the Washington Nationals. His 90
career saves for Toronto ranks him fourth on the team’s all-time list.
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