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Dodgers' Closer Kenley Jansen Hospitalized With Irregular Heartbeat

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was hospitalized on Thursday with an irregular heartbeat ahead of the team's game against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.

Get well, Kenley.

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was hospitalized on Thursday with an irregular heartbeat ahead of the team's game against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.

Jansen was noticeably absent in the Dodgers bullpen at Coors Field, and Spectrum SportsNetLA reporter Alanna Rizzo, announced during the broadcast, that the team's closer was unavailable for the game with an "illness."

After the game, an 8-5 come-from-behind victory for the Boys in Blue, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Jansen was at the team hotel earlier in the day, but didn't feel right, so he was taken to a nearby hospital.

"Kenley had a little episode with an irregular heartbeat," Roberts said after the game. "There's been a history of that with Kenley, so once we heard that, we got him to the hospital and had some tests done."

As mentioned, Jansen has dealt with an irregular heartbeat in the past, and has seen the medical issue arise while at Coors Field in the high altitude of Mile High Stadium.

"There's history of it," continued Roberts. "Anytime you're talking about the heart and an irregular heartbeat and things like that, obviously you have to be very careful with it. Then you're talking about altitude. That's why we wanted to be proactive and get him back there." 

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Jansen was placed on the disabled list in 2011 after taking blood thinning medication for an irregular heartbeat, and on Aug. 27, 2012 during a series at Colorado, Jansen again suffered symptoms of an irregular heart beat.

Later that year, he underwent a procedure on his heart to help return it to a normal rhythm. 

Roberts said that Jansen was on his way back to Los Angeles after the game, and he would be unavailable for the entirety of the four-game series with the divisional rival Rockies. 

"Once he sees a doctor, the cardiologist, we'll know more about his situation and have a timetable then," said Roberts. "We're holding out hope it's not too serious. His mood is fine. After further testing, then we'll know more. Right now, that's all I know." 

Janen was an All-Star again this season, and is 0-3 with a 2.15 ERA and 32 saves in 51 games for the Dodgers this season.

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