Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox Closer Kenley Jansen Exits Spring Training Game With Peculiar Ailment

Boston continues to battle pitching injuries
Scott Neville|
Red Sox Closer Kenley Jansen Exits Spring Training Game With Peculiar Ailment
Red Sox Closer Kenley Jansen Exits Spring Training Game With Peculiar Ailment

In this story:

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox's pitching staff has been decimated by injuries all spring training, and one more prominent name can be added to the list.

Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen exited the team's spring training game against the Atlanta Braves early Friday. The 35-year-old veteran did not appear to hurt himself on the previous pitch and did not allude to any specific issue while on the mound. 

After the game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that Jansen was lightheaded according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. 

Jansen has missed time in the past with atrial fibrillation -- a heart condition causing an irregular heartbeat that can lead to some dangerous outcomes. Fortunately, the veteran hurler does not believe his heart was the issue. 

"Kenley Jansen said he’s feeling better," Boston Sports Journal's Sean McAdam tweeted Saturday. "(He) felt lightheaded on the mound after the first hitter Friday night. Said the issue is not afib-related and that he expects to pitch Sunday."

Jansen speculated that dehydration was the root of the issue after spending a lot of time before the game in the Flordia sun. 

The Red Sox already are expected to start the season without James Paxton (hamstring) Brayan Bello (forearm) and Garrett Whitlock (hip) in the starting rotation. 

Recently left-hander Joely Rodríguez (oblique) and right-handed long reliever Wyatt Mills (elbow inflammation) went down with injuries that will put them on the injured list as well. 

With three starters and two relievers on the shelf, Jansen's health is of the utmost importance for the Red Sox.

More MLB: Red Sox Debuting AI Technology To Speed Up Fenway Park Security At Gates

Published
Scott Neville
SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer.  His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu

Share on XFollow scottneville46
Home/Boston Red Sox News