Dodgers place Kenley Jansen on DL with irregular heartbeat
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Kenley Jansen, who had overcome a sore shoulder to again become a dominant reliever this season, was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Dodgers on Friday with cardiac arrhythmia.
The Dodgers called up right-hander Josh Lindblom from double-A Chattanooga to take Jansen’s spot on the roster.
Jansen, who hasn’t given up a run in his last 14 appearances, complained his heart was fluttering Tuesday after recording a seven-pitch save against the Rockies. An EKG performed at the stadium indicated an irregular heartbeat, and he was taken to the hospital.
When Jansen, 23, failed to respond to medication, his heart was shocked back into its normal rhythm. He was released from the White Memorial hospital on Thursday.
[Updated at 6:01 p.m.: Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said Jansen will be out three weeks because he was placed on blood thinner medication to prevent a clot.
He said the Dodgers consulted with seven different cardiologists, and though opinion was divided, it was decided to go ‘safe and conservative.’
‘Kenley is no longer having a problem and may not have one again the rest of his life,’ Conte said. ‘The decision was made to use the blood thinners simply as a precaution.’
Jansen said he actually felt his lower heart flutter Tuesday afternoon before his ninth-inning performance.
‘I pitched that way with it, and it got a little bit worse,’ Jansen said. ‘Then they did the EKG and decided to go to the hospital. Then I thought, ‘What’s really going on?’ That scared me a little bit.’
Conte said the decision to use blood thinners, and put Jansen on the disabled list, ultimately was Jansen’s choice.
‘It’s a little frustrating, but you have to take care of your health first,’ Jansen said.’I want to go out there and pitch, but it’s just too dangerous.’
The Dodgers don’t want to risk him being struck by a baseball while on the blood thinner. Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said Jansen would continue to throw regularly on the sideline while on the DL, but will wear a batting helmet while in the bullpen.]
Jansen leads the majors with an average of 14.84 strikeouts per nine innings. During his last 16 innings, opponents are batting .059 against him (3 for 51).
Lindblom was up once earlier this season, allowing two runs in the 10 2/3 innings of his eight games. At Chattanooga, he had 16 s aves and a 2.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
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