Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen hoping higher spin rate will help him sizzle

ESPN’s statistical database, which might differ from what the Dodgers carry internally, had Jansen with an average spin rate of 2,302 RPMs in 2017, ranked fourth among the 274 pitchers who compiled at least 60 innings. In 2018, Jansen’s RPMs dropped to an average of 1,867, ranked 61st.

Jansen wasn’t worried about those numbers before.

“He didn’t need to be,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “It was elite—don’t mess with it.”
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Prior seeks the ideal combination of bite and rise from Jansen’s cutter, characteristics that were far more prevalent throughout 2017. It’s already showing up, and Prior has become impressed with how quickly Jansen can make adjustments to get it there. His spin rate was a little lower during his first official bullpen session last Wednesday, so Prior talked to him about slightly tweaking the grip on his cutter and Jansen complied.

Two days later, Jansen threw a bullpen session that he said topped out around 2,600 RPMs and averaged only a little less than that.

“And you gotta remember—I’m only throwing a bullpen right now,” Jansen said. “The intensity is not there.”

Jansen isn’t sure if he reached 2,400 RPMs at any point last season.

To him, it no longer matters.

“A lot of things happened with me, man, that kind of slowed me down,” Jansen said. “I’m healthier this year, let’s put it that way. Definitely. I feel like it’s going to be better this year. I’m in a better place. Trust me.”