Kevin Ritz – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Kevin Ritz, a right-handed pitcher standing 6’4″ and weighing 195 pounds, made his mark on Major League Baseball over a ten-year career. Ritz pitched for the Detroit Tigers (1989-92) and the Colorado Rockies (1994-1998), hanging up his glove on May 16, 1998, at just 32. Born in Eatontown, New Jersey on June 8, 1965, Ritz picked up the Tigers’ Rookie of the Year award in 1989, hinting early on that he had something special.

He played through the late ’80s and ’90s, becoming one of the first pitchers to take the mound for the Colorado Rockies franchise. Ritz appeared in 299 games, mostly as a starter. Pitching at Coors Field, a notorious hitter’s haven thanks to Denver’s altitude, he still managed to contribute solidly to the Rockies’ rotation—no small feat.

Kevin Ritz’s Early Life and Amateur Career

Kevin Ritz’s baseball story began in New Jersey, with his high school and college years showing off his pitching talents pretty early.

Background and Family

Kevin D. Ritz was born June 8, 1965 in Eatontown, New Jersey. He grew up in a middle-class family, and his love for baseball started young. His dad, who was really into baseball himself, used to toss the ball around with Kevin in the backyard, helping him build up that arm and learn accuracy.

The Ritz family always backed Kevin’s athletic dreams. Most summers, you’d find him pitching in local youth leagues, where he started turning heads as a talented young pitcher with a knack for the game.

By his early teens, folks in his community already knew Ritz as a promising baseball prospect.

High School Achievements

At T.C. Williams High School, Ritz stood out on the baseball field. He quickly became the team’s ace pitcher, showing off control and velocity that you just didn’t see too often at that age.

During his junior year, Ritz led the team to a regional championship, finishing with a 9-2 record and a 1.85 ERA. He snagged:

• All-County First Team honors
• Team MVP
• Attention from college scouts

In his senior year, Ritz went even bigger—over 100 strikeouts, ERA under 2.00. That kind of dominance made him one of the most sought-after high school pitchers in the region.

His fastball already touched the high 80s, and he was working on off-speed stuff that hinted at bigger things to come.

College Baseball at Notre Dame

Ritz took a baseball scholarship to Notre Dame, and that’s where he really started to sharpen his pitching against stiffer competition. He mostly came out of the bullpen as a freshman, getting used to the college game.

By sophomore year, he’d earned a spot in the Fighting Irish starting rotation. Ritz kept getting better, and in his junior year, he broke out with an 8-3 record and a 3.25 ERA.

Notre Dame’s coaches helped Ritz smooth out his mechanics and add new pitches. He worked up a more reliable curveball and changeup, making him a more complete pitcher.

After his junior year, the San Francisco Giants picked him in the fourth round (79th overall) of the 1985 MLB Draft. That was the start of his pro baseball journey.

Path to Major League Baseball

Kevin Ritz’s road to the majors took patience and a lot of work. He actually got drafted by a team he never played for in the big leagues.

Draft Selection and Minor League Development

The San Francisco Giants picked Ritz in the fourth round of the 1985 MLB Draft. He’d played at Indian Hills Community College, and scouts liked his strong arm and big frame.

Ritz spent time in the Giants’ minor league system, but he never cracked their big-league roster. Those years in the minors helped him refine his pitching and build the endurance he’d need for the majors.

The Detroit Tigers picked him up through the minors. He spent a few seasons working on control and adding new pitches in their farm system.

Transition to the Major Leagues

Ritz finally got the call with the Detroit Tigers on July 15, 1989. Those first years were a learning curve as he faced top hitters for the first time.

He impressed the team enough to win Tigers’ Rookie of the Year in 1989. Ritz pitched four seasons with Detroit (1989-92), growing as a big-league pitcher, even if it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

After Detroit, Ritz’s career took a big turn. The expansion Colorado Rockies picked him up in 1994. Suddenly, he became one of their first dependable pitchers, even with all the headaches that came with pitching at high-altitude Coors Field.

Professional Career with Detroit Tigers

Kevin Ritz started his big-league career with the Tigers, showing flashes of what he could do but also running into some tough stretches. His time in Detroit set the stage for the better days ahead.

Breaking Into the Rotation

Ritz broke in with the Tigers in 1989 after the Giants drafted him in 1985. He grabbed Tigers’ Rookie of the Year honors right off the bat.

He showed promise but had trouble locking down a rotation spot. His first year, the numbers were okay, but he was still figuring out major league hitters.

By 1990, Ritz worked to prove himself as a reliable starter. But he struggled with control, and that held him back from securing a permanent role.

The Tigers were chasing wins, so Ritz bounced between the bullpen and starting, depending on what the team needed.

Notable Games and Performances

From 1989-1992, Ritz had a few games where he really looked like the pitcher scouts had hoped for. Early on, his fastball and breaking stuff were sharp.

When he had his control, Ritz could be tough to hit, and he gave Tigers fans hope for the future.

One of his best outings came against a division rival, where he showed he could hang with the league’s top hitters.

Still, consistency was a struggle. Walks and control issues often undid his good work on the mound.

Trades and Moves

By 1992, the Tigers started to question Ritz’s future with the team. His progress had slowed, and they were looking for stability.

Those control problems just wouldn’t go away, and the Tigers moved on after the season.

Ritz never got to pitch in the World Series for Detroit, but his story wasn’t over yet.

The Colorado Rockies picked him in the expansion draft, and that fresh start in Denver let him reinvent himself and show what he could really do.

Colorado Rockies Years

Ritz found his stride in the big leagues after joining the Colorado Rockies in the 1994 expansion draft. For a few years, he became one of the Rockies’ first pitching stars.

Key Seasons and Statistics

Ritz’s best year was 1996, when he went 17-11 with a 5.28 ERA over 213 innings. He became the first Rockies pitcher to win 17 games—a big deal, considering how tough Coors Field made things for pitchers.

In 1995, he went 11-11 with a 4.21 ERA and helped the Rockies reach the playoffs for the first time as a Wild Card team.

Between 1994 and 1997, Ritz picked up 39 wins for Colorado, making him their most reliable starter in those early days. He made more than 30 starts in both 1995 and 1996, showing impressive durability.

But shoulder injuries started to hit in 1997, and by the start of 1998, he landed on the disabled list.

Impact on a Young Expansion Team

Ritz gave the Rockies much-needed stability in their rotation. The team needed reliable arms, and Ritz stepped up as their ace, at least for a while.

He helped set the tone for Rockies pitchers, especially when it came to handling the altitude and the wild games at Coors Field.

During the 1995 playoff run, Ritz’s steady presence brought credibility to the young team and helped build a winning vibe early on.

Ritz wasn’t just about numbers. He showed a competitive edge and always took the ball every fifth day, even when the conditions made it brutal.

Teammates and Playing Environment

Ritz pitched alongside Rockies sluggers like Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette, Larry Walker, and Vinny Castilla—the “Blake Street Bombers.” Their bats often gave Ritz plenty of run support.

Pitching at Coors Field before the humidor era was no joke. The thin air let the ball fly, and breaking pitches didn’t break like they should.

Ritz adapted, focusing on location and mixing speeds instead of just trying to blow hitters away. That adjustment let him succeed where a lot of pitchers just couldn’t figure it out.

His teammates respected his work ethic and grit. He took on the tough job of starting at Coors, and he kept finding ways to help the team.

Pivotal Moments and Playoffs

Kevin Ritz faced plenty of pressure moments that shaped his reputation as a pitcher, especially during his Rockies years.

Postseason Appearances

Ritz got his playoff shot in 1995, helping the Rockies make the postseason for the first time. He finished that year 11-11 with a 4.21 ERA—pretty solid, all things considered at Coors.

In the 1995 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, Ritz started Game 1. He ran into trouble against that stacked Braves lineup, giving up seven hits and three runs before coming out in the fifth.

The Rockies lost the series, and the Braves went on to win the World Series. Still, Ritz’s playoff start was a milestone for him and for the young Rockies franchise.

Performance Under Pressure

Throughout his career, Ritz found ways to raise his game when the stakes got high. In 1996, he led the Rockies’ pitching staff with a career-best 17 wins, keeping the team in the thick of the tough National League West.

He thrived at home, figuring out how to pitch at Coors Field when so many visiting pitchers just couldn’t get comfortable. That knack for handling the high-altitude environment made him a real asset for the Rockies.

One of his standout moments under pressure came in late September 1995. The Rockies were fighting for a Wild Card spot, and Ritz pitched seven strong innings against the Giants to help lock down a crucial win in the playoff chase.

Even as shoulder problems started to creep in and eventually cut his career short in 1998, Ritz just kept showing up with that mental toughness, especially when things got tough.

1998 Retirement and Legacy

Kevin Ritz wrapped up his baseball career in 1998 after shoulder issues got the best of him. His time with the Colorado Rockies cemented him as a key figure in the early days of the franchise, even with the constant challenge of pitching at altitude.

Final Season Overview

Ritz started the 1998 season on the disabled list because of ongoing shoulder trouble. That last year in the majors felt short and pretty rough—he made only a handful of appearances for Colorado and couldn’t quite find his old form.

His 1998 statistics showed the struggle, with numbers that fell well below his career averages. That stubborn shoulder just never bounced back, and it limited what he could do on the mound.

He retired from Major League Baseball at the end of the 1998 season, at age 33. His exit happened during a stretch when a lot of 1990s players were winding down their own careers.

Career Milestones

Over his nine-year MLB run, Ritz picked up some solid achievements:

• 69 career wins between the Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies
• 937.0 innings pitched across 223 big league games
• 692 strikeouts
• Key part of the young Rockies franchise

Kevin Ritz, at 6’4″ and 195 pounds, built a reputation for durability before injuries caught up to him. Born in Eatontown, New Jersey, he debuted with Detroit in 1989, but really found his stride in Colorado.

His best seasons came with the Rockies in 1995 and 1996, where he became a go-to starter—even with all the chaos that comes with pitching at Coors Field.

Major Achievements

Ritz’s biggest impact came as a cornerstone for the Rockies’ early pitching staff. He was the team’s first 15-game winner, hitting that mark in 1995.

That year turned out to be his peak, helping the Rockies reach the playoffs for the first time. Ritz finished 17-11 with a 4.21 ERA over 173.1 innings—pretty impressive, considering Coors Field’s reputation for boosting hitters’ stats.

Born in Bloomfield, Iowa, Ritz really embodied persistence. He had only moderate success in Detroit but became a rotation leader in Colorado before injuries took their toll.

Pitching effectively at altitude remains one of his most remarkable feats. Sure, his career numbers (69-82, 4.61 ERA) might seem modest at first glance, but context matters—he pitched in a hitter’s paradise during a high-offense era.

Comparisons with Other Notable Players

Kevin Ritz’s career draws some interesting parallels with other pitchers from the 1990s. His stats and style show both strengths and some obvious weak spots compared to his peers.

Pitchers in the Same Era

Ritz pitched through a high-scoring stretch in baseball, so his work with the Rockies stands out. Unlike pitchers who got to work in pitcher-friendly parks, Ritz had to deal with Coors Field’s thin air and huge outfield.

Compared to Brian Williams, another right-hander from the era, Ritz showed more durability and consistency. The head-to-head comparisons between Ritz and Williams highlight Ritz’s greater impact over a similar stretch.

He never made it to the World Series, unlike guys like Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine. Still, being an original Rockies rotation member gives Ritz a place in history that some statistically superior pitchers don’t have.

Statistical Comparisons

Ritz ended his career with a 39-51 record and a 5.35 ERA over eight seasons. His best year came in 1996, when he posted a 17-11 record—even though his ERA was 5.28 in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field.

If you look at his matchups against specific hitters, there are some fun details. For example, the stats between Alex Arias and Kevin Ritz show Ritz could handle certain batters, despite his overall tough numbers.

Arm trouble cut Ritz’s career short, and he left baseball early in the 1998 season because of injuries. That early exit kept him from piling up the longevity stats that might have boosted his place in the record books.

Post-Baseball Life

After saying goodbye to pro baseball in 1998 due to arm issues, Kevin Ritz shifted into a quieter life away from the spotlight. His retirement opened up a new chapter focused on family and community involvement.

Transition to Retirement

Kevin Ritz left baseball earlier than anyone expected when arm troubles ended his career in the early part of the 1998 season. At just 32, the former Rockies pitcher had to figure out life without the daily grind of professional sports.

Not much got reported about his transition, since Ritz kept a pretty low profile after leaving the game. He didn’t jump into broadcasting or coaching the way a lot of former players do. Instead, he chose a quieter path.

He left the game during a turning point in baseball, right as the sport was shifting into the so-called steroid era. Even though he wasn’t on the mound anymore, Ritz’s contributions to the early Colorado Rockies teams still linger in the franchise’s foundation.

Community and Personal Endeavors

After he hung up his cleats, Ritz headed back to his roots. The Bloomfield, Iowa native focused on enjoying family life, far from the glare of professional sports. Sportswriters haven’t really followed his story, but every now and then, Ritz pops up at Rockies alumni events.

He’s spent his post-baseball years doing things like:

• Getting involved in local baseball programs
• Joining charity events with old teammates
• Backing youth sports efforts

While players like Barry Bonds kept grabbing headlines (see this 2007 New York Times article), Ritz mostly steered clear of major league attention. That article pointed out that Ritz “retired nine years ago from the Colorado Rockies,” which just goes to show how fast pro athletes can slip out of the spotlight.

Some of his peers stuck around MLB organizations—think the Washington Nationals—but Ritz went a different way and kept things private after baseball.