North Gwinnett News

The Atlanta Braves are welcoming top-flight reliever Kenley Jansen as he departs from the L.A. Dodgers after 17 seasons.

Jansen pointed to his childhood dream of donning the Braves uniform, recalling the days when his passion for the sport stemmed from watching his older brother Ardley and Curacao native Andruw Jones play for the team, a recent report by MLB.com said.

"It's awesome to put this uniform on," Jansen told MLB.com. "This is where it all started for me. This is where the hope started. This is where the dream to become a Major Leaguer started."

Kenley Jansen signed a one-year, $16 million deal to pitch for the Braves. | Kenley Jansen/Facebook

Jansen signed to join as the closer for Atlanta during the same week that now-former longtime Brave Freddie Freeman left to join the L.A. Dodgers. The pitcher told MLB.com it's all about how the team can bring another championship to the Braves' fans, and he is there to help do whatever they can to win games.

"The Braves came in at the end and that made it an easier decision for me," Jansen said in the report.

As defending champions, the Braves have spent the past week doing what they can to put the team on track for success this year as well. The addition of Jansen gives the team one of eight pitchers in MLB history to have at least 350 saves and 1,000 strikeouts. 

Jansen's new one-year deal with the Braves is for $16 million, the report said.

It won't be long before Jansen returns home. The Braves will go against the Dodgers in a National League Championship Series-rematch at Dodger Stadium April 18-20.