Kenley Jansen has not showed up for Dodgers camp yet

With Dodgers’ summer camp underway, Kenley Jansen has yet to report.

The MLB restart remains surrounded by uncertainty at the moment, with some of the league’s best players unwilling to commit to a season. Mike Trout, for one, has admitted to some second thoughts regarding his decision to play, as his wife is pregnant. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases around the country hasn’t done much to put players at ease, and as much as they’d love to play baseball and serve as a welcomed distraction for fans across the country, they understandably are taking their own health and safety into account.

The Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen, for one, has yet to report to Dodgers camp for unspecified reasons.

Why hasn’t Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen reported to camp?

That answer is unknown at this point, but if there were a player on the Dodgers at severe risk, Jansen would qualify. His past heart issues make playing during a pandemic, and potentially exposing himself to further complications and a deadly virus, a dilemma to say the least.

Jansen has 71 saves over the past two seasons for the Dodgers, and despite some slip-ups in the postseason, is the key cog to a capable bullpen. Without him, the next-man-up philosophy applies, with Joe Kelly and Pedro Baez asked to take on larger roles. Of course, both Dave Roberts and Los Angeles fans hope it doesn’t get to that point.

Along with Jansen, AJ Pollack also hasn’t reported to camp, meaning the Dodgers could be without their outfielder and closer at least for the interim. With just a few weeks to prepare for regular season action, and a shortened campaign at that, the Dodgers are already at a disadvantage.

Los Angeles has won the NL West every year since 2013. If there were a season for that norm to be tested, it would be this one.