The Boston Red Sox ninth inning will have a whole new look.

Future Hall of Famers are hard to find, and the Red Sox have had one in their closer role the last two seasons. But Kenley Jansen was placed on the injured list Sunday with shoulder inflammation, likely spelling the end of his career in Boston.

Jansen was brought in to steady the ninth inning for the Red Sox, and despite all the other things that were unstable during his tenure with the team, he succeeded. He saved 56 of 64 save opportunities in a Red Sox uniform and pitched to a 3.44 ERA in 94 1/3 innings.

With Jansen heading to free agency, the closer’s role for 2025 is uncertain. Liam Hendriks won’t pitch this season and Chris Martin is also a free agent, but rookie Justin Slaten, whom the Red Sox stole from the New York Mets last winter, could be the homegrown closer Boston desperately needs.

Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic accounted for Slaten having every save opportunity left this season.

“Cora has said he will use Chris Martin and Justin Slaten for save opportunities this week, but it seems prudent to give Slaten every chance. His closer potential is obvious and something the Red Sox have suggested all season,” McCaffrey said.

“Liam Hendriks is signed for next year but there is no guarantee that he will take on the closer role. Hendriks was hoping to make it into a game by the end of this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, but time is running out. Slaten would benefit from the exposure.”

Slaten, who turned 27 on September 15, has a 3.04 ERA/2.62 FIP in 53 1/3 innings this season. He has excelled in multi-inning situations and is also capable of escaping jams in high-leverage spots.

A key aspect of the Red Sox bullpen’s collapse in the second half was the loss of Slaten to the injured list due to right elbow inflammation. When he left they were in the wild card position and nine games over .500, and at the end of the day when he came back they were just three games over .500.

However, being a closer is very different than succeeding in any other relief role. The last three outs of the game are the most difficult to get, which is why good closers like Jansen are paid almost as much as starters.

We don’t yet know how Slaten will perform in the role of full-time closer. But hopefully a week is enough time to get some information.