Casey Janssen

Robert Casey Janssen (born September 17, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Janssen out of UCLA in the fourth round of the 2004 draft.

He made his professional debut for the Low-A Auburn Doubledays, posting a 3-1 record and 3.48 ERA in 10 games.

He split the 2005 season between the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays, and the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, recording a cumulative 13-4 record and 2.18 ERA with 136 strikeouts in 148.2 innings of work.

He pitched for two seasons in various levels of the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league organization before his debut in 2006 as a starting pitcher.

He began the 2006 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.

When an injury to A. J. Burnett created an opening in the Blue Jays' rotation, Janssen was promoted from Syracuse and made his major-league debut against the Baltimore Orioles on April 27, 2006.

Janssen won his first two games against the Los Angeles Angels, both times posting solid outings, allowing fewer than three hits over seven innings each.

In, with multiple injuries to the Blue Jays rotation and bullpen, Janssen made a move to the bullpen and performed very well as the set-up man for interim closer Jeremy Accardo.

He led the bullpen in innings pitched, and was second in team saves with six.

Janssen established himself as one of the best in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen as well as in the American League.

Janssen was moved to the bullpen as a middle reliever and spot starter from 2007 to 2011, and in 2012 he was put in the closing role.

Janssen also played for the Washington Nationals.

Janssen was born in Orange, California, and raised in Huntington Beach, California, graduating from Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, California.

At Fountain Valley, Janssen was a three-year letter winner, and set single-season records at the school for home runs (12), RBIs (44), and triples (5).

In his senior season, Janssen also pitched 40 innings with a 2.12 ERA and had 56 strikeouts.

Janssen attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins baseball team.

In his first season, Janssen pitched as a fourth starter and long reliever, and held a record of 2–3 with a 5.57 ERA, but excelled in relief appearances, and also went 2–9 with a home run as a pinch hitter.

In his second season, Janssen played first base and was a starter, finishing the season with a 4.06 ERA and a strikeout-walk ratio of 2.0 before an injury prematurely ended his season.

During his junior season, Janssen went 6–6 with a 5.88 ERA and 73 strikeouts, while also making appearances at first base and as a designated hitter.

Janssen was the number one starter for his senior season, and went 10-4 with a 3.16 ERA.

Janssen missed the entire 2008 season with a torn labrum.

He was expected to make a full recovery and to be ready for Spring Training 2009 either out of the bullpen or as a starter, but suffered a setback and did not make the Opening Day 2009 roster for Toronto.

On May 23, 2009, Janssen returned to action facing the Atlanta Braves in interleague play, going 6 innings and giving up 8 hits and 3 earned runs in a 4–3 decision giving him his first loss of the season.

On June 17, 2009, it was announced that Janssen was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 14, with inflammation of his right shoulder.

Janssen made 56 appearances in 2010, garnering a 5–2 record with a 3.67 ERA.

Janssen had a fantastic season in 2011, recording a 6–0 record with a career-low 2.26 ERA in 55 appearances.

Janssen also recorded 2 saves, beginning his transition into the new Blue Jays closer.

On February 13, 2012, Janssen signed a two-year, $5.9 million extension with the Blue Jays.

He earned $2 million in 2012 and $3.9 million in 2013.

In arbitration, Janssen asked for $2.2 million, but the Jays countered with $1.8 million.

His contract covered his final arbitration year and his first free-agent year.

He was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing the next day.

On November 16, 2012, Janssen had surgery to repair "lingering AC joint soreness".

Janssen was voted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) as the top Blue Jays pitcher of 2012, narrowly edging out Brandon Morrow.

Janssen recorded a career-high 22 saves in 2012.

On February 5, 2013, manager John Gibbons said that, barring injury, Janssen would have the closer role for the start of the 2013 regular season, over teammate Sergio Santos.

Janssen opened the 2013 season with 12 consecutive saves before blowing his first save of the season on June 8, against the Texas Rangers.

The Blue Jays would come back to win the game 4–3 in 18 innings, the longest game in franchise history (at the time).

His deal included a $4 million club option for 2014.